Two more defendants plead guilty in the college basketball point-shaving case

Two more defendants have pleaded guilty in the federal college basketball point-shaving case in Philadelphia: Roderick Winkler and former Southern Miss guard Arlando “Mo” Arnold. For sportsbooks and payment teams, the scale is the point here — prosecutors say the scheme touched more than 39 players, over 17 NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams, and generated more than $3 million in fraudulent wagers.

1. On Monday, Roderick Winkler pleaded guilty before US District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro to several felony charges, including bribery in sporting contests. Prosecutors say the 32-year-old worked with others to recruit and bribe players so they would underperform and fail to cover the spread on selected games.
2. Separately, Arlando Arnold agreed to plead guilty to bribery in sporting contests and aiding and abetting the scheme. The former University of Southern Mississippi guard averaged 6.2 points and 2.4 assists per game in 2023-24 as a fifth-year senior; prosecutors allege he helped fix two games that season and recruited a co-conspirator in a third.
3. Winkler is described in court filings as an admitted match fixer who used his work as a trainer and coach in AAU and high school basketball to get close to players. Starting in 2023-24, he and others allegedly offered bribes to NCAA players, targeting athletes for whom the payments would materially supplement or exceed legitimate Name-Image-Likeness compensation.
4. The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania says the scheme involved more than 39 players on over 17 NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams, with more than 29 games fixed or attempted to be fixed. Prosecutors also say the betting generated more than $3 million in fraudulent wagers and more than $1.1 million in losses to sportsbooks across the country.
5. Winkler took part in schemes involving approximately a dozen players, including games featuring Nicholls State, Tulane, St. Louis, Buffalo, North Carolina A&T and Robert Morris. In March 2024, Winkler and others recruited Carlos Hart, a University of New Orleans guard.

The first defendant to be formally sentenced is Jalen Smith, who received a 72-month prison term at a hearing on 14 October. Two others are scheduled for sentencing early next year after their plea deals this week.