Federal prosecutors are seeking a sentence at the top of the suggested range for Jalen Smith , 30, of North Carolina for his role in a bribery and point-shaving scheme to fix or influence NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) men’s basketball games from September 2022 through February 2025.

Smith pled guilty in March before U.S. District Court Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro on charges in connection with a bribery and point-shaving scheme to fix NCAA Division I men’s basketball games and Chinese Basketball Association games and charges related to an unlawful possession of a firearm. According to a federal indictment released in January , 20 individuals were indicted for their various roles in the scheme.

The 20 individuals named in the indictment allegedly bribed 39 NCAA athletes on more than 17 NCAA Division I teams, leading to more than 29 games being fixed. According to the indictment, 15 of the individuals in the scheme played NCAA basketball in either the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 seasons.

Smith is due to be sentenced today at 11 a.m. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Federal prosecutors submitted a sentencing memorandum in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Oct. 8, recommending Smith be sentenced from 70 to 87-months for his actions, the top of the suggested sentencing range for his charges.

Additionally, federal prosecutors are seeking restitution of $1,148,137.41 for victims of his scheme to be paid jointly by Smith and co-defendants. However, according to court documents Smith claims his net worth is $1,240.18 and his sole income is $750 per month.

Smith was enlisted as a “fixer” to work with co-defendants to recruit and bribe NCAA men’s basketball games. Smith helped to recruit and bribe members of NCAA basketball teams to underperform in games and fail to cover the spread in games during 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 NCAA seasons. According to court documents, Smith had a “leadership role” in the scheme, particularly by recruiting, managing, and paying players for their roles.

Smith and other co-defendants approached and communicated with players in-person and through social media, texts, and cell phone calls to offer bribes, usually ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.