(AsiaGameHub) – The NCAA has confirmed that former Abilene Christian men’s basketball student-athlete Airion Simmons has been banned for life. Simmons allegedly agreed to fix at least two games while playing for the college in March 2024.
In a press release, the NCAA revealed that the now 25-year-old accepted a $3,500 bribe to “play bad” in a game against Tarleton State.
He allegedly recruited other players to ensure Abilene Christian did not win. The NCAA says he received the cash in a Dallas parking lot but did not pay the teammates with whom he conspired.
Simmons Named in Federal Indictment
Simmons was one of several college basketball players named in a federal indictment in January. He first agreed to fix a game on March 19 against Texas A&M. However, despite his efforts to underperform, the team won.
The scheme was allegedly led by former Chicago Bulls player Antonio Blakeney, Marves Fairley, and Shane Hennen. Both Fairley and Hennen have also been named in the NBA betting scandal that includes Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones, and Terry Rozier.
The bettors wagered $82,000 on Texas A&M to beat Abilene Christian, according to the indictment. After the bets were lost, the fixers said that they should have recruited more players.
Simmons, along with another unnamed player, agreed to fix the next game against Tarleton State. Bettors wagered $40,000 on Tarleton State to cover first- and full-game point spreads. In this instance, the bets won, with Simmons scoring zero points.
Gamblers Continue to Post Picks Online
Despite being named in two federal indictments for their attempts to fix NBA and NCAA basketball matches, both Fairley and Hennen continue to post gambling tips online.
On his Instagram account, Hennen advertises his tipping service, which charges for gambling picks.
He has not publicly posted any picks recently, but in October last year boasted of a 12-2 winning record from his previous 14 tips.
During February and March 2024, prosecutors claim Hennen and his co-conspirators attempted to fix at least 21 games. Of these, the bettors won 13 times but lost money on the other eight matches.
Fellow Tipster Promotes Must-Win Picks
In addition to Hennen, Fairley continues to promote picks for his subscription service, Vezino Locks. He sells daily “locks” for $60 and recently claimed an 11-4 winning record.
As part of the NCAA’s investigation, Simmons said he had contact with two known bettors. The NCAA does not say whether they are Hennen or Fairley.
Simmons is facing charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bribery in sporting contests. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in federal prison.
This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content.
AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.