A federal indictment unsealed on January 16, 2026, in Pennsylvania has charged 26 individuals, including over a dozen college basketball players, in a widespread scheme to fix NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games through point-shaving. The plot targeted games from the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, with players allegedly underperforming to benefit bettors. Four North Carolina natives, including a former North Carolina A&T player, are among those implicated.
Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced the charges on Thursday, January 16, 2026, detailing a betting operation that ensnared players from 17 Division I schools. The scheme involved fixers bribing athletes to shave points, enabling wagers on various gaming markets. Games as recent as last season were affected, with 20 players accused of underperforming to manipulate outcomes.
Among the charged are four North Carolina natives: Camian Shell, a former North Carolina A&T player from Winston-Salem now at Delaware State University; Elijah Gray, a Fordham player from Charlotte; Dyquavion Short, a University of New Orleans player from Greenville; and Jalen Smith, a Charlotte native acting as a fixer. Shell, Gray, and Short allegedly participated by underperforming in games, while Smith is accused of bribing athletes and committing wire fraud.
Temple University issued a statement acknowledging new information in the indictment referencing C.J. Hines' alleged involvement in point-shaving during his enrollment there. The university emphasized its compliance with NCAA rules and commitment to ethical conduct.
North Carolina A&T State University responded to the charges against Shell, stating it was aware of the indictment but not implicated in any violations. The school noted that NCAA enforcement is not seeking penalties related to Shell or other student-athletes. Efforts to reach Shell and Delaware State University for comment were unsuccessful.
The indictment highlights ongoing concerns over sports betting's influence on college athletics, with prosecutors vowing to combat such corruption.
