Turn in the NBA betting case: Malik Beasley negotiates to plead guilty
The case places Beasley under serious accusations related to the alleged manipulation of his statistics during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2023-24 season.
The former NBA player Malik Beasley is negotiating a plea agreement with federal prosecutors regarding his alleged involvement in a bribery and sports betting scheme. A notification incorporated into the court file indicates that the player intends to change his initial plea of not guilty, although his lawyer, Steve Haney, confirmed to ESPN that he has not yet signed any agreement and that discussions are ongoing.
According to the attorney, a decision is expected early this week. The case places Beasley, 29, under serious allegations related to the alleged manipulation of his statistics during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2023-24 season. The player, who has played for six franchises over nine years in the NBA, faces several federal charges.
Beasley may change his plea to guilty
The possible agreement took a step forward on Friday night when the judge handling the case requested a federal magistrate in Brooklyn to schedule a hearing for Beasley to modify his plea. Until now, the former player had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
However, the procedure is still not closed. Haney explained that negotiations with Justice Department attorneys are ongoing and that his client has not yet signed an agreement with prosecutors. Therefore, the intention to plead guilty noted in the file does not yet equate to a formal declaration before the court.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York did not immediately respond to additional questions regarding the matter.
The case also involves other defendants. On the same Friday, the judge issued a similar order for Ernesto Plascencia, whose lawyer confirmed on Saturday that he would also plead guilty. William Brown, another implicated individual, already pleaded guilty earlier this month, while Robert Gorodetsky is expected to formalize his plea on November 20.
The prosecution accuses Beasley of manipulating his statistics
The investigation asserts that Beasley deliberately manipulated his statistical performance in at least four games during the 2023-24 season while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. According to prosecutors, the goal was to allow third parties to place bets based on his statistics and to profit from them.
The indictment describes an alleged mechanism in which co-defendants selected games that would not be broadcast nationally. Afterward, Beasley would decide whether his performance in points and rebounds would be above or below the expected figures, which would have allowed for targeted betting.
Consequently, the accusations focus on the alleged deliberate use of information about his own performance to favor sports betting. However, these claims are part of the indictment and must be treated as alleged actions until the legal proceedings are resolved.
The document also notes that Beasley accumulated “multimillion-dollar betting losses” despite having won tens of millions of dollars throughout his professional career. According to the prosecution, those losses would be related to his involvement in the alleged scheme.
Four federal charges against the former NBA player
Beasley faces four federal charges related to the case:
| Charge | Description |
|---|---|
| Bribery in sports competitions | Alleged participation in actions aimed at influencing the outcome of bets linked to sports competitions. |
| Conspiracy to commit wire fraud | Alleged agreement to develop a fraudulent scheme through electronic communications. |
| Conspiracy to commit wire fraud by depriving honest services | Charge related to the alleged use of fraudulent practices to deprive third parties of honest services. |
| Conspiracy to commit money laundering | Alleged participation in an agreement to conduct operations aimed at concealing or managing funds linked to the scheme. |
A potential guilty plea would represent a significant change in Beasley’s legal position, who initially denied all charges. However, the terms of a possible agreement and the judicial consequences he could face are still unknown.
Other names linked to the investigation
The case is not limited to Beasley. Other defendants include former NBA player Ed Davis and Paolo Zamorano, who was his agent. Both have pleaded not guilty.
The legal situation of the defendants differs: while Brown has already admitted his guilt and Plascencia is expected to do the same, Gorodetsky has a scheduled date to formalize his plea. Beasley, for his part, continues to negotiate with prosecutors.
The evolution of these pleas may be significant for the development of the case, although the terms of the agreements and the final scope of individual responsibilities have not yet been detailed.
An investigation that threatens to prolong
The potential guilty plea from Beasley represents a new movement in an investigation affecting several individuals linked to the sports betting environment. The former player, who had a nine-season career in the NBA, may soon modify his position before federal court after initially denying the allegations.
For now, the key lies in the outcome of negotiations between his defense and the Justice Department. His lawyer maintains that no signed agreement exists yet and that a decision is expected early this week. Until the relevant hearing is held and any change in plea is formalized, the process remains open.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Giro en el caso de apuestas de la NBA: Malik Beasley negocia declararse culpable
