Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn unsealed an indictment on Monday, charging former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis, along with an agent and three others, for their alleged roles in a sports gambling scheme that targeted multiple games during the 2023-24 season.

The government claims the whole operation revolved around manipulating on-court statistics for profit. According to court documents obtained by ESPN, Beasley racked up millions of dollars in gambling debts over his nine years in the league. To help clear those debts, prosecutors say he teamed up with Davis, his former Minnesota Timberwolves teammate, and agreed to intentionally alter his play while with the Milwaukee Bucks so co-conspirators could cash in on his player prop bets.

Federal authorities arrested Davis on Monday morning, alongside co-defendants Rob Gorodetsky, Ernesto Plascencia, and William Brown. Beasley and sports agent Paolo Zamorano were not immediately taken into custody. In a statement provided to ESPN, Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, explained that they are working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to arrange a voluntary surrender later in the week. Haney stressed that an indictment is not proof of guilt, noting that the investigation lasted 18 months and that Beasley maintains his innocence. Meanwhile, Zamorano's attorney, Kenneth Breen, called the allegations unfounded and said his client looks forward to being exonerated in court.

The indictment outlines four specific games where Beasley allegedly adjusted his play to hit the "under" or "over" lines set by sportsbooks. In one instance from January 2024 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, prosecutors cite text messages where Beasley allegedly told Davis he would stay under his rebounding line. Bookies set the line at 3.5 boards, and Beasley finished with exactly three. ESPN reported on another message sent by Davis to Beasley in December 2023 that read, "Only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting. We can make some good money." Investigators claim Davis acted as the "gatekeeper" for the payouts, which were allegedly used to chip away at the money Beasley owed him.

The league is already reacting to the news. NBA spokesman Mike Bass issued a statement to ESPN confirming that the league is reviewing the filing and cooperating fully with federal investigators, emphasizing that protecting the integrity of the game is their absolute main priority. The National Basketball Players Association also noted to ESPN that they are monitoring the situation to ensure due process is followed.

This is not an isolated incident for the league. The legal filings explicitly link this case to a broader ongoing investigation in the same New York federal court, revealing that former player and assistant coach Damon Jones has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to an insider trading scheme involving guard Terry Rozier. With Monday's unsealing, Beasley and Davis are now the fifth and sixth current or former NBA players to face federal gambling charges over the past two years.