Former NBA player Malik Beasley is negotiating a plea agreement with the Department of Justice regarding charges that he manipulated his performance in games to benefit sports bettors. His attorney, Steve Haney, stated on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, that an agreement is being discussed with the government following Beasley's initial plea of not guilty in July. The charges include wire fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy.
The legal action follows a federal investigation into a gambling scheme involving six indicted individuals and more than three dozen arrests. Prosecutors allege that in 2024, while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, Beasley altered his play in at least four games to underperform or overperform relative to betting lines. The indictment claims this was done to reduce Beasley's personal debts to former teammate Ed Davis, who is accused of acting as a "gatekeeper" for the scheme.
Details from the indictment highlight a Jan. 26, 2024, game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Prosecutors allege Beasley told Davis he would underperform on rebounding in exchange for a bribe; Davis then allegedly shared this information with others who placed wagers totaling tens of thousands of dollars. Beasley finished the game with three rebounds, which was below the betting line. Beasley has reportedly faced significant financial difficulties, including $8 million in problems involving a landlord, a barber, and a $1 million default judgment from a sports marketing agency.
The case involves sports agent Paolo Zamorano and former player Ed Davis, who each face federal charges. Prosecutors state wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The legal proceedings have already affected Beasley's career; although he played the 2024-25 season on a $6 million contract with the Detroit Pistons, the team withdrew a subsequent multi-year offer after the investigation began. He has remained out of the NBA since that season.
For the broader sports industry and the public, the case involves allegations of bribery that U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. stated "erode the integrity of American sports." The scale of the investigation involves six indicted individuals in this specific ring and over 36 arrests in total across the broader probe. The prosecution seeks to demonstrate how professional athletes may be pressured by personal gambling debts to influence the outcomes of specific "prop bets"—wagers on individual player statistics rather than the final score of a game.
What happens next depends on the outcome of the current plea negotiations. Attorney Steve Haney indicated that a "direction" in the case is expected in the coming days. If a plea agreement is not reached, Beasley and his co-defendants, who have all maintained their innocence to date, would move toward trial in New York federal court. A specific date for the next court appearance or a deadline for the plea agreement was not reported. Any final plea would require the approval of a federal judge.