Gambling Scheme Organizer Jalen Smith Sentenced to Six Years

Jalen Smith, a key organizer in a college basketball gambling and game-fixing scheme, has been sentenced to six years in prison. The sentence, handed down on October 13 in Philadelphia federal court, also includes three years of supervised release, a $1.1 million restitution payment, and a $75,000 forfeiture. Smith, 30, had pleaded guilty to bribery in sports competitions, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud. A charge of illegal possession of a firearm was also included due to a loaded handgun found in his home in 2025.

According to prosecutors, Smith played a central role in identifying, recruiting, and paying players involved in the scheme, which began in the Chinese basketball league during the 2022/23 season. He allegedly helped recruit players, including Antonio Blakeney, then with the Jiangsu Dragons, to intentionally underperform in games for gambling purposes. Blakeney is also accused of recruiting other teammates. At the end of that season, nearly $200,000 in cash, representing bribe payments and profits, was found in a storage unit linked to Blakeney.

The scheme later shifted to U.S. college basketball. Players were reportedly offered $10,000 to $30,000 per game to deliberately underperform, specifically by failing to cover point spreads in the first half or the entire game. Prosecutors claim Blakeney and Smith were involved in recruiting players like Mikaober Etienne-DeFree, who allegedly recruited three teammates. In one instance, Smith reportedly sent messages to Etienne-DeFree during a game to limit a player not involved in the plan.

Shane Hennan, 41, a professional gambler known as "Sugar Shane," pleaded guilty on October 14 to bribery in sports competitions, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and three counts of wire fraud related to the China and college basketball cases. In a separate New York case, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering, stemming from the use of insider information on NBA games for betting. This information was allegedly passed from players and coaches to a betting network that concealed its source and used intermediaries. Hennan faces maximum sentences of 85 years in the China/college case and 40 years in the NBA case; his sentencing is pending.

The scope of the operation is extensive, with federal prosecutors stating the college basketball scheme involved over 39 players from more than 17 teams who manipulated or attempted to manipulate over 29 games. The article also mentions Marbes Fairley as someone who, along with Hennan, allegedly recruited Blakeney.