Former NBA guard Malik Beasley has been indicted on federal charges related to an alleged sports betting scheme. Prosecutors claim he intentionally altered his performance in games to benefit bettors. A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of New York returned the indictment on June 24, charging Beasley, former NBA player Ed Davis, current player agent Paolo Zamorano, and three other individuals with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, sports bribery, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The indictment states that Beasley and the others allegedly participated in a scheme from December 2023 to April 2024, using inside information about Beasley's intended performances to place profitable wagers. At the time, Beasley played for the Milwaukee Bucks.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. remarked that bribery and insider betting schemes involving former and current NBA players undermine the integrity of American sports and harm the sports-watching public.
The indictment outlines specific Bucks games that prosecutors allege were manipulated. For instance, ahead of a January 26, 2024 game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Beasley reportedly informed Davis that he planned to underperform in rebounds. Co-conspirators then allegedly placed significant wagers on Beasley's 'under rebounds' prop bet, with Beasley finishing the game with three rebounds, one less than the betting line.
The indictment also mentions games against the Charlotte Hornets on February 27 and the Los Angeles Clippers on March 10, where Beasley allegedly provided inside information about his expected performance in points and rebounds.
Court documents indicate that four of the defendants were arrested on Monday morning and will be arraigned in Brooklyn at a later date, while Beasley and Zamorano were not in custody at that time. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Beasley's attorney, Steve Haney, stated that the government is coordinating a voluntary surrender this week.
Beasley, 29, last played in the NBA during the 2024-25 season with the Detroit Pistons, averaging 16.3 points per game. He has not participated in the league since being linked to gambling investigations last year. Davis last played in the NBA in 2022 after a 12-year career with eight different franchises.