Full Breakdown
Malik Beasley to Plead Guilty in Federal Sports-Betting Case
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In this breakdown
01
Core Event: Dec. 9 Guilty Plea in Brooklyn Federal Court
Former NBA guard Malik Beasley has agreed to enter a guilty plea on Dec. 9 in a Brooklyn federal court. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York allege that Beasley deliberately altered his scoring and rebounding totals in at least four Milwaukee Bucks games during the 2023-24 season to benefit bettors. The indictment lists charges of bribery in sporting contests, wire-fraud conspiracy, honest-services wire-fraud conspiracy and money-laundering conspiracy.
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Video: Malik Beasley indicted in latest round of charges in DOJ sports gambling probe
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Background & Context
The indictment was unsealed on June 29, 2026, naming six defendants, including Beasley, former teammate Ed Davis, and sports agent Paolo Zamorano. The scheme is said to have been motivated by “multimillion-dollar gambling losses” that Beasley accumulated while playing for the Bucks. Beasley, a 2016 first-round pick (19th overall) of the Denver Nuggets, played for six NBA teams, earned nearly $60 million in salary, and averaged 11.7 points over nine seasons. He most recently appeared for the Detroit Pistons in the 2024-25 season, averaging 16.3 points per game and finishing second in voting for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
The case is part of a broader DOJ investigation that has produced more than three dozen arrests across the league, including earlier guilty pleas by former players Jontay Porter and Damon Jones.
Visual evidence
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Data & Statistics
- The indictment identifies four specific games in which Beasley allegedly manipulated his performance: a March 10, 2024 matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers and a March 21, 2024 game against the Brooklyn Nets, plus two additional contests against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets (dates not disclosed).
- Beasley’s NBA earnings total $59,948,525, according to Spotrac.
- Six defendants were charged; two (William Brown and Robert Gorodetsky) have already pleaded guilty, while others remain pending.
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Official Statements & Responses
- The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that a plea agreement has been reached but declined to comment on its terms.
- Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, told ESPN that a deal had been reached and that his client will change his plea on Dec. 9.
- Mike Vorkunov of *The Athletic* reported on Oct. 27, 2026 that the plea is scheduled for Dec. 9 in Brooklyn.
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Verbatim Quotes
- “Only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting,” — Ed Davis
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Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Sources differ on the status of the plea: ESPN and CBS News reported on Oct. 24, 2026 that negotiations were still underway, whereas USA Today and *EssentiallySports* stated that Beasley had already agreed to plead guilty.
- No outlet disclosed which specific counts the plea will cover.
- Details about potential sentencing, restitution, or NBA disciplinary action have not been released.
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Why It Matters
Beasley’s forthcoming guilty plea makes him the second NBA player to admit guilt in the current federal gambling sweep, following Jontay Porter’s 2024 plea. The case highlights the Justice Department’s intensified focus on illicit sports-betting activities involving professional athletes and may prompt the NBA to reassess its integrity safeguards and contract negotiations, especially as Beasley’s prospective $42 million deal with Detroit collapsed after the investigation became public.