# Three Defendants to Plead Guilty in Beasley NBA Betting Scandal Federal prosecutors confirm plea intentions as Malik Beasley maintains his innocence in match-fixing case. - **Source:** [Bitcoin News](https://brifing.si/source/d8aeaf1e-9839-4dad-9d25-7a6bf3fbeef8) - **Published:** 2026-10-16 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/677185fa-6c85-48ee-9216-ab815231b56f ## Plea Developments in Brooklyn A federal prosecutor informed Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall on Wednesday that three of the five remaining defendants in the Malik Beasley case intend to enter guilty pleas. This shift follows the earlier guilty plea of William Brown, who admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud regarding the alleged betting scheme. ## Beasley Maintains Legal Defense Former NBA guard Malik Beasley continues to contest the allegations, with his attorney Steve Haney stating there are currently no plans to plead guilty. Beasley is actively reviewing discovery materials and exploring potential defenses. The trial for the remaining defendants is currently scheduled to commence on May 17, 2027. ## Scope of Criminal Indictment The six defendants face serious federal charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests, and money laundering conspiracy. Prosecutors allege the group transformed professional basketball games into a criminal betting operation. Each count of wire fraud and money laundering carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. ## Mechanism of Statistical Manipulation The indictment details allegations that Beasley manipulated his performance in four 2023-24 Milwaukee Bucks games to benefit bettors. By coordinating with Ed Davis to underperform or overperform on specific stats, the group placed wagers totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. These actions aimed to reduce gambling debts owed by Beasley. ## Specific Games Under Scrutiny Prosecutors identified four specific games from early 2024 where statistical thresholds were allegedly targeted. These matchups included contests against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Brooklyn Nets. While most wagers focused on Beasley staying under statistical lines, he notably failed to stay under his rebounding threshold against Brooklyn. ## Broader Regulatory Betting Context Judge Hall is simultaneously presiding over a separate case involving former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier regarding an alleged bribe to exit a game early. Both cases highlight the risks associated with player prop wagers. These specific betting markets allow individuals to bet on specific player statistics rather than game outcomes. ## Industry Pushback on Props Major professional sports unions, including the NBA, NFL, and MLB, have formally petitioned the CFTC to prohibit contracts based on negative outcomes. These organizations argue that allowing wagers on under-performance creates significant integrity risks. The unions specifically targeted the rise of prediction markets that facilitate betting on individual player statistical thresholds. ## Implications for Sports Integrity The Beasley case underscores the vulnerability of modern sports betting markets to internal manipulation. As legal betting expands, the intersection of player props and criminal conspiracy poses a direct threat to league credibility. The upcoming 2027 trial will likely serve as a critical test case for federal sports bribery enforcement. ## Sources covering this story - https://news.bitcoin.com/igaming/three-in-beasley-nba-betting-case-plead-guilty-prosecutor-says/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._