We Read The Full Malik Beasley Gambling Indictment. Here Are The 7 Most Shocking Allegations

Yesterday, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York unsealed a federal indictment against former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis, along with four other defendants, in connection with an alleged sports-betting scheme tied to Beasley's individual prop bets during the 2023-24 NBA season.

Davis, who was Beasley's teammate on the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2020-21 season, allegedly loaned Beasley money and served as the key middleman between Beasley and the betting group. The other defendants included Paolo Zamorano, an NBA agent who previously represented Davis; Ernesto Plascencia, a California resident described in the indictment as a friend of Davis and several current and former NBA players; William "Willo" Brown; and Robert Gorodetsky. Together, prosecutors allege, the group used non-public information about Beasley's planned statistical performances to place bets on his points and rebounds.

The charges are serious: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

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Beasley earned roughly $60 million during his NBA career. He had just finished one of the best seasons of his life with the Detroit Pistons. He reportedly had a three-year, $42 million offer on the table before the investigation became public. And according to prosecutors, he allegedly risked all of that in a scheme where the actual bets were often shockingly small by NBA standards.

The indictment describes a group allegedly trying to profit from Beasley's points and rebounds through prop bets that were often measured in thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. One alleged wager of about $2,500 produced roughly $1,667 in profit. Another of about $2,838 produced about $3,252. The biggest specific example in the indictment involved about $25,000 in wagers that produced about $77,000 in profit. For his efforts, Malik was relieving an alleged multi-million-dollar debt and receiving a relative pittance per game.

We spent the morning combing through the DOJ's full 22-page indictment. Below is a summary of the seven most shocking allegations:

#1. Beasley Allegedly Had Multi-Million-Dollar Gambling Losses

The indictment's most important financial detail appears early: prosecutors allege that Beasley earned "tens of millions of dollars" during his NBA career, but also accumulated "multi-million dollar gambling losses." Prosecutors further allege that Ed Davis, a former NBA player and one-time teammate of Beasley, had extended several loans to him.

That is the financial backdrop to the entire case. The government is not describing a wealthy athlete casually tipping off friends. Prosecutors are describing a player with major career earnings, major gambling losses, and debts to another former NBA player.

That allegation also explains why the case is so financially stunning. Beasley had already made life-changing money, and after his strong season in Detroit, he appeared to be on the verge of making life-changing money again.

#2. Ed Davis Was Allegedly Beasley's "Gatekeeper"

Beasley and Davis were teammates on the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2020-21 season. According to prosecutors, they remained close afterward, with Davis allegedly serving as Beasley's connection to the betting group.

The indictment alleges that Beasley agreed with Davis, who was described as Beasley's "gatekeeper," to underperform or overperform in certain statistical categories before specific Bucks games. Davis and the others then allegedly used that non-public information to place wagers on Beasley's individual prop bets.

That is one of the most explosive parts of the indictment. Prosecutors are not alleging that a random gambler guessed correctly on a few props. They are alleging that a former NBA player acted as the middleman between an active NBA player and a group of bettors.

#3. The Alleged Bribes Were Debt Relief

One of the strangest financial details is how prosecutors say Beasley was compensated.

According to the indictment, Beasley allegedly received bribes in return for performance fixing, typically by having debts he owed to Davis reduced or paid off.

That makes the story feel less like a glamorous gambling conspiracy and more like a debt spiral. Prosecutors are essentially alleging that Beasley risked his NBA career not for a massive one-time payday, but to chip away at money he owed.

That detail is especially brutal when viewed next to the reported $42 million Pistons offer. If the allegations are proven, Beasley may have lost access to the biggest contract of his career over a scheme that allegedly benefited him in much smaller increments.

#4. Beasley Was Only Getting "$5-8k" Per Game

After one of the alleged successful games, prosecutors say members of the betting group discussed how much money Davis was making and what Beasley might be getting.

In one alleged exchange, Ernesto Plascencia texted Paolo Zamorano that Davis was "cleaning up" in profits and "probably giving Malik like 5-8" per game. Zamorano allegedly replied, "No question, 5 maybe." Plascencia then added, "5 that he owes him in interest too."

The obvious interpretation is that they were discussing roughly $5,000 to $8,000 per game, possibly paid or credited against Beasley's debt.

If true, that is jaw-dropping. A player who had already earned roughly $60 million, and who reportedly had a $42 million offer waiting, may have endangered everything over a couple grand per game.

#5. The Biggest Alleged Payday Came Against The Hornets

The February 27, 2024 Bucks-Hornets game appears to be the biggest specific betting win described in the indictment.

Prosecutors allege that Beasley told Davis he intended to underperform in points and overperform in rebounds. The group then allegedly placed bets on Beasley's under-points and over-rebounds props.

According to the indictment, one set of wagers totaling approximately $24,999.88 produced approximately $77,187.60 in profit. Other alleged bets included a $5,200 parlay that produced about $18,460 and a $5,000 straight bet that produced about $4,166.

Beasley played about 26 minutes in that game, scored six points, and recorded four rebounds. Prosecutors allege his points line was about 12.5 and his rebound line was about 3.5, meaning the under on points and over on rebounds both hit.

#6. One Alleged Bet Came Down To A Rebound In The Final Second

The most cinematic allegation involves the March 10, 2024 Bucks-Clippers game.

Prosecutors allege Beasley intended to overperform on rebounds. The prop line was approximately 3.5 rebounds. Beasley finished with four.

According to the indictment, the fourth rebound came in the game's final second, with the Bucks already leading and the outcome effectively decided. Afterward, prosecutors say the alleged bettors celebrated the last-second rebound in text messages. One allegedly wrote that Beasley got the rebound with 1.1 seconds left and that the group was 1.1 seconds away from being down thousands. Another allegedly commented that after Beasley grabbed it, he had a "big sigh of relief."

That allegation is devastating because it reads like prosecutors are trying to show that the bettors were watching not just the game, but the exact prop line in real time.

The indictment says one bettor placed approximately $2,838 on Beasley over rebounds and profited about $3,252. Another allegedly placed about $2,400 and profited about $2,107. Some other bettors allegedly misunderstood the planned prop and placed losing under-rebounds wagers.

#7. The Alleged Scheme Collapsed When Beasley Missed The Planned Prop

According to prosecutors, the alleged scheme began to unravel after a March 21, 2024 game between the Bucks and Nets.

The group allegedly placed wagers on Beasley's under-rebounds prop based on information from Davis. But Beasley allegedly "failed to perform" as planned, and the bets lost.

Afterward, Plascencia allegedly demanded that Davis either compensate the group for its losses or arrange more Beasley fixes in future games. Then reports emerged that NBA player Jontay Porter was under investigation in a similar performance-fixing case, and prosecutors allege Davis began backing away from future arrangements.

The indictment also alleges that members of the group took steps to conceal their involvement, including deleted messages and Davis removing himself from conversations.