Anticipated Federal Investigation into College Basketball Betting Scandals Set to Result in Indictments
In a shocking turn of events, five men, including Jontay Porter himself, have pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in a betting ring that manipulated games and shared insider information. The mastermind behind the scheme, Shane Hennen, is believed to be a Las Vegas resident, while the investigation also involves several college basketball programs across the country.
The betting ring's connection to Porter, a former Toronto Raptors forward, has cast a shadow over several college basketball programs. The federal investigation is currently focused on a betting ring that has ties to southern schools, but it extends to other regions as well.
The following programs are under investigation by the NCAA for potential violations related to sports gambling:
- New Orleans: Four players were suspended last season for unspecified team rule violations, which were later reported to be related to possible NCAA violations concerning sports gambling.
- Eastern Michigan: The university received a notice of inquiry from the NCAA, with games against Wright State and Central Michigan flagged for unusual betting activity.
- Mississippi Valley State: The school is under NCAA investigation, along with other programs.
- Temple: The university is also part of the NCAA's investigation into potential violations.
The federal investigation, however, is broader, involving multiple players and programs across the country, with at least nine college basketball games flagged for unusual betting patterns over the past two seasons. It's not yet confirmed whether these specific schools are directly implicated in the federal charges.
Porter is alleged to have intentionally altered his playing time to help pay off gambling debts. Others are believed to have profited from Porter's player prop outcomes. The same group is linked to suspicious betting on a 2023 NBA game involving guard Terry Rozier.
Porter was banned from the NBA for life in 2024, following the revelations of his involvement in the betting scandal. The sentencing for Timothy McCormack, Mahmud Mollah, and Jontay Porter's associate, Long Phi Pham, is yet to be scheduled. Meanwhile, Porter's sentencing is set for December.
As the investigation continues, more details are expected to emerge, shedding light on the extent of the betting ring's influence on college and professional basketball. The NCAA and the NBA are working closely to ensure the integrity of the games is maintained, and any violations are promptly addressed.
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