Malik Beasley is negotiating a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in a case alleging that he manipulated his NBA performances to benefit sports bettors. His attorney confirmed the discussions on October 24, while a court notice reportedly indicated an intention to change his earlier plea.
Attorney Steve Haney told The Associated Press that negotiations were underway and that the position should become clearer in the coming days. Beasley pleaded not guilty in July.
A Court Hearing Would Formalize Any Plea Change
ABC News reported that the judge overseeing the case had referred a change-of-plea proceeding to a federal magistrate in Brooklyn, who would schedule a hearing.
The reported notice did not identify which charge or charges Beasley intended to admit. The reports described negotiations and preparations for a hearing, with no completed guilty plea or agreement terms announced.
The Allegations Center on Points and Rebounds
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced the indictment on June 29. Beasley and five other defendants were charged with offenses including sports bribery, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
Prosecutors allege that Beasley agreed to influence individual statistics while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024. Other participants allegedly received advance information about his intended performance and used it to place bets through multiple sportsbooks.
Those allegations concern player prop bets, which depend on an individual’s performance, such as points or rebounds. Prosecutors describe arrangements involving both lower and higher statistical totals.
For example, the government alleges that before a February 27, 2024 game against Charlotte, Beasley communicated plans to finish below expectations for points and above expectations for rebounds.
Prosecutors Allege Debt Relief Was Part of the Arrangement
According to the indictment, former NBA player Edward Davis helped communicate Beasley’s intended performances to other participants. Prosecutors allege that bribes typically took the form of reducing or clearing gambling debts Beasley owed Davis.
The government says the alleged operation involved wagers totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. These remain prosecution allegations, and the reported plea discussions do not establish that Beasley has admitted every claim in the indictment.
The next significant development would be confirmation of an agreement and the charges addressed at a plea hearing. That would clarify how Beasley intends to resolve his part of the case.
