Man who helped recruit players into a sprawling NCAA basketball point-shaving scheme pleads guilty

"Jalen Smith appeared in federal court in Philadelphia and pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bribery charges, becoming the first of 26 people charged in the scheme to formally do so. It came a week before the start of March Madness, in which bettors will wager billions legally - and illegally - on the 68 college basketball teams in the tournament."

"Smith, of Charlotte, North Carolina, trained and developed local basketball players for professional scouting combines and used those connections with players when he became part of the scheme, according to prosecutors. The charges against Smith and 25 others were unsealed in January."

"Besides the fixers who recruited players and placed bets, the charges targeted 17 former college basketball players and four other players who were active with their college teams this season. More than a dozen players tried to fix games as recently as last season and some helped recruit other players, federal prosecutors said."

Jalen Smith, a basketball trainer from Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bribery charges in federal court in Philadelphia. He was the first of 26 people charged in a sprawling scheme involving rigged NCAA basketball games that allegedly generated millions in illegal betting proceeds. Smith used his connections with basketball players developed through professional scouting combines to participate in the scheme. The charges, unsealed in January, targeted fixers who recruited players and placed bets, along with 17 former college basketball players and four active college players. More than a dozen players attempted to fix games recently, with some recruiting additional participants. The case emerged one week before March Madness, when billions are wagered legally and illegally on college basketball.

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