Ex-Athletes, Sportsbook Trader Charged in Bet-Fixing Scheme

Two former college basketball players and an ex-sportsbook employee face felony charges in Nevada for an alleged prop bet fixing scheme. The charges stem from manipulated player statistics in a 2025 NCAA game and subsequent wagers.

What Happened

Nevada court documents indicate that Steven Vasquez, a former basketball player for Fresno State and San Jose State, and Matthew J. Martin, previously employed as a sports trader at DraftKings in Las Vegas, were arrested in September 2026. They face charges of committing a fraudulent act in a gaming establishment and attempting or conspiring to cheat at a gambling game, according to ESPN. Additionally, the Clark County District Attorney issued an arrest warrant in August 2026 for Mykell Robinson, another former Fresno State player, who remains at large, as reported by a spokesperson for the DA’s office.

The alleged scheme centered on Mykell Robinson’s statistics during a 2025 game between Fresno State and Colorado State, according to court documents and the NCAA. Robinson is accused of intentionally manipulating his performance in the game. Vasquez, Martin, and another former DraftKings employee, Samuel Silverman, allegedly placed wagers on the under on Robinson’s statistics with a Las Vegas sportsbook. Martin’s successful wagers resulted in a net gain of $15,950, according to records obtained by ESPN.

Martin and Vasquez have pleaded not guilty to the charges, as stated by their attorneys. The charges are classified as Class C felonies, carrying potential penalties of one to five years in prison and associated fines. Silverman, who was arrested in May 2026 and faces similar charges, also pleaded not guilty. His attorney previously informed ESPN that he would “present a vigorous defense.”

Key Details

• Steven Vasquez and Matthew J. Martin were arrested in September 2026 and have pleaded not guilty to felony charges, according to ESPN.
• Mykell Robinson, a former Fresno State player, has an outstanding arrest warrant issued in August 2026 in connection with the alleged scheme, according to the Clark County District Attorney’s office spokesperson.
• The alleged scheme involved manipulating Robinson’s statistics during a 2025 game between Fresno State and Colorado State, with wagers placed on the under on his performance, as reported by court documents and the NCAA.
• Martin’s wagers related to the alleged scheme reportedly resulted in a net win of $15,950, according to ESPN.
• Vasquez and Robinson were roommates at Fresno State during the 2023-24 season, and the alleged scheme occurred in the following season when Vasquez had transferred to San Jose State, according to the NCAA.
• Samuel Silverman, a former team manager for Fresno State men’s basketball, was arrested in May 2026 on similar charges and has pleaded not guilty, as reported by ESPN.
• DraftKings confirmed that Silverman and Martin worked as sports traders in their Las Vegas office in 2025 but did not have responsibilities for setting college basketball odds, according to a company spokesperson.

Why It Matters

This case highlights the ongoing regulatory focus on maintaining integrity within regulated sports wagering markets. The Nevada Gaming Control Board stated it “will continue to aggressively investigate any activity that threatens the fairness and public confidence of regulated sports wagering,” according to ESPN. The involvement of former college athletes and a former sportsbook employee in an alleged scheme to manipulate game outcomes for betting purposes underscores the challenges regulators and operators face in preventing illicit activities. DraftKings, while noting the alleged activity did not occur on their platform and the individuals are no longer employed by the company, stated a commitment to protecting the integrity of sports and sports betting, according to an ESPN report.

Originally reported by ESPN·Published 21 Oct 2026, 19:43