Malik Beasley has agreed to plead guilty to charges related to his alleged involvement in an illegal sports gambling scheme..

2026-10-29 12:55

Malik Beasley has agreed to plead guilty to charges related to his alleged involvement in an illegal sports gambling scheme..


The Athletic exclusively reported on Wednesday that the attorney of former Detroit Pistons shooting guard Malik Beasley has confirmed that the player has agreed to plead guilty to charges related to his alleged involvement in an illegal sports gambling scheme.


According to the report, Beasley has been negotiating a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and has informed the office of his intent to enter a guilty plea. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Brooklyn on December 9 to formally enter the plea.


Beasley becomes the second active NBA player to plead guilty to charges stemming from a federal investigation into gambling-related activities within the NBA.


Beasley was charged in June for his alleged participation in an illegal sports betting operation. According to court documents, he manipulated his own on-court performance, enabling gamblers involved in the scheme to win bets placed on his individual statistical output. He had previously entered a plea of not guilty.


Jontay Porter was the first NBA player to plead guilty. In July 2024, he admitted to his involvement in a separate, though related, betting scheme. Porter is currently awaiting sentencing.


Former NBA player Ed Davis was also indicted in the same case as Beasley. Federal prosecutors allege that Davis was the mastermind behind the operation. Beasley and Davis were teammates on the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2020/21 season. Both men face four charges each.


According to federal prosecutors, Beasley became indebted through gambling and borrowed money from Davis. He subsequently joined the betting scheme as a means to repay that debt.


A total of six individuals have been indicted in this case, one of whom, William Brown, has already pleaded guilty.


Two other defendants, Robert Gorodetsky and Ernesto Plasencia, have also been identified as individuals who intend to enter guilty pleas. 


Beasley is accused of manipulating his performance in four games during the 2023-24 season while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks—specifically, games against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 26, 2024; the Charlotte Hornets on February 27, 2024; the Los Angeles Clippers on March 10, 2024; and the Brooklyn Nets on March 21, 2024.


Over the course of his nine-season NBA career, Beasley earned approximately $60 million in salary.


During his time with the Detroit Pistons, he finished second in voting for the "Sixth Man of the Year" award—a feat that would have likely secured him a new $42 million contract. However, the team rescinded the offer after discovering he was the subject of a federal investigation. He has not played in the NBA since.


As Beasley prepares to enter a guilty plea, Terry Rozier has also been implicated in the case and is currently awaiting trial in February.


Image source: Internet / The Athletic

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