Gambling Scheme Organizer Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

A significant development has occurred in a gambling and game-fixing case involving former Hapoel Tel Aviv player Antonio Blakeney. Jalen Smith, identified as one of the organizers of activities in college basketball, was sentenced to six years in prison last week. Concurrently, Shane Hennigan, a professional gambler and a key figure in the scheme, has pleaded guilty to charges in two separate gambling cases. Blakeney's name appears in prosecution documents, alleging his participation in fixing games in China and later assisting in recruiting college players.

Smith, 30, received his sentence on October 13 in a Philadelphia federal court after admitting to bribery in sports competitions, conspiracy to commit fraud, and wire fraud. His sentence also included a charge of illegal possession of a firearm, stemming from a loaded handgun found at his residence during a 2025 search. In addition to imprisonment, he faces three years of supervised release, approximately $1.1 million in restitution, and a $75,000 forfeiture.

According to the prosecution, the operation began in the Chinese league during the 2022/23 season. Hennigan and Marbes Fairley allegedly recruited Blakeney, then playing for the Jiangsu Dragons, to intentionally perform poorly and help fix games for betting purposes against his own team. Blakeney is also accused of recruiting other teammates. Following the season, a package containing nearly $200,000 in cash, representing bribe payments and profits, was reportedly found in his Florida storage unit.

The scheme later shifted to college basketball, where players were offered $10,000 to $30,000 per game to underperform, specifically to ensure their teams did not cover betting spreads in the first half or the entire game. Blakeney and Smith are implicated in recruiting Mikaober Etienne-Deval, who allegedly recruited three teammates. In one instance, Smith reportedly sent messages to Etienne-Deval during a game to instruct a player not involved in the plan.

Hennigan, 41, known as "Sugar Shane," pleaded guilty on October 14 to bribery in sports competitions, conspiracy to commit fraud, and three counts of wire fraud related to the China and college basketball cases. In a separate New York case, he admitted to conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering, involving the use of insider information on NBA games for betting. The prosecution claims this information was passed from players and coaches to a network of gamblers who concealed its origin from betting companies. The maximum sentences for these cases are 85 and 40 years, respectively, with his sentencing pending.