Former NBA player Malik Beasley expected to plead guilty

Prosecutors expect former NBA player Malik Beasley to plead guilty to several federal charges following an indictment issued against him in July. The Department of Justice alleges that Beasley manipulated games to benefit business associates who were placing bets.

According to prosecutors, Beasley adjusted his performance in games to suit his own interests and used inside information to profit from the betting market. The player, who had a nine-year NBA career, and NBA player Ed Davis are facing charges of wire fraud conspiracy, sports bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to an ESPN report, Beasley will admit his guilt as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. His attorney, Steve Haney, did not disclose the terms of the agreement. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York confirmed the plea. Four other people, in addition to Davis, are also named as defendants in the case.

The indictment states that Davis reduced and erased Beasley's gambling debts and, in return, asked him to adjust his performance. In a message Davis sent to Beasley in December 2023, he said the only way to beat Vegas was sports betting and that they could make good money. Prosecutors allege that Beasley promised to deliberately lower his rebounding performance in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 26, 2024.