TLDR
- Former NBA player Malik Beasley plans to drop his not-guilty plea in a federal betting case, his attorney said.
- Prosecutors say Beasley manipulated his stats in at least four 2023-24 Milwaukee Bucks games to help gamblers win bets.
- He faces charges including bribery in sporting contests, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy.
- Co-defendant Ernesto Plascencia also intends to plead guilty, his attorney confirmed.
- A federal magistrate in Brooklyn has been asked to schedule Beasley’s change-of-plea hearing.
Former NBA player Malik Beasley is set to drop his not-guilty plea in a federal sports betting case. His attorney, Steve Haney, said a new plea will be announced in the coming days.
Haney said Beasley, 29, is negotiating a plea deal with Department of Justice prosecutors. The former guard now plans to plead guilty, according to his lawyer.
The Charges Against Beasley
Prosecutors say Beasley manipulated his statistics in at least four games during the 2023-24 season with the Milwaukee Bucks. They allege he did this to help gamblers place and win bets on his performance.
According to the indictment, his co-defendants picked games that would not be shown on national television. Beasley then decided whether he would go over or under expectations in scoring and rebounding.
He faces federal charges of bribery in sporting contests and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is also charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Beasley first pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. He was one of six people named in an indictment unsealed earlier this year, along with sports agent Paolo Zamorano.
The case is tied to a larger gambling scandal. That scandal has led to more than three dozen arrests, according to GamblingNews.
Debts and Money Troubles
Beasley reportedly earned more than $60 million over nine NBA seasons. Reports say he lost much of that money to gambling and built up large debts.
He reportedly borrowed money from former teammate Ed Davis to cover millions of dollars in gambling losses. Davis, who is also a co-defendant, is accused of acting as Beasley’s “gatekeeper” in the alleged scheme.
Prosecutors allege Davis played a direct role in the arrangement. In exchange for fixing the games he played in, Beasley’s debt to Davis was reduced or wiped out.
Beasley’s money problems also included reported disputes with a Detroit landlord, a Milwaukee barber and a Minnesota dentist. In 2025, a sports marketing agency won a $1 million default judgment against him.
That same year, he was evicted from his apartment while the FBI investigated his gambling activity. That investigation led to the current charges.
On the court, Beasley averaged 11.7 points per game across 578 appearances. He played for the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz and other teams. He is one of only five players in NBA history to make more than 300 three-pointers in a single season.
Late last week, the judge overseeing the case asked a federal magistrate in Brooklyn, New York, to schedule a hearing for Beasley to change his plea.
A similar order was filed the same day for co-defendant Ernesto Plascencia. His attorney confirmed on Saturday morning that Plascencia also plans to plead guilty.
The change-of-plea hearing still needs to be set by the magistrate. Beasley’s new plea is expected to be announced within days.
