Beasley-Davis Gambling Case: 3 Defendants Expected to Plead Guilty

The federal NBA gambling case against Malik Beasley and Ed Davis could shrink fast. At a hearing on Wednesday, October 14, in Brooklyn federal court, prosecutor David Berman said the government believes three of the five remaining defendants will plead guilty.

The other two have not yet publicly considered plea deals. Prosecutors haven’t said who is who, and that question matters for every bettor who trusts player prop markets.

What Prosecutors Told the Judge in Brooklyn

Berman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, spoke before Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall. He did not name the three defendants the government expects to plead, according to The Athletic.

That leaves the field open. All five pleaded not guilty this summer, so any guilty plea would reverse an earlier position. Beasley and Davis both appeared in court and sat at the same table.

The trial is scheduled to begin May 17, 2027. Pleas before then could leave fewer defendants for a jury to weigh.

Beasley’s Camp Says No Plea for Now

At least one name looks unlikely to be on the plea list. Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, told The Athletic that Beasley does not intend to plead guilty.

Haney said his team is still reviewing discovery and possible defenses. So for now, the door to a plea isn’t fully closed.

Lawyers for Davis, Paolo Zamorano, Ernesto Plascencia and Robert Gorodetsky did not respond or clarify their clients’ plans. Zamorano is Davis’ former agent.

One Defendant Already Pleaded Guilty

Six men were originally charged. William Brown broke ranks first, pleading guilty in early October to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Brown was among four defendants who placed bets on Beasley’s performance. His plea is why five defendants remain.

Those five face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, sports bribery, honest services wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The grand jury indicted them in June.

How the Alleged NBA Gambling Scheme Worked

According to the indictment, Davis led the scheme. Beasley allegedly ran up millions of dollars in gambling debt and took a loan from Davis. The two were teammates for one season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Prosecutors allege Davis had Beasley work off that debt by manipulating his own stats. The alleged games came during Beasley’s 2023-24 season with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Most of the alleged wagers were unders on statistical thresholds. In plain terms, the bets allegedly paid off when Beasley finished below a set number.

The Four Bucks Games in the Indictment

The indictment included examples of wagers totaling more than $75,000, with net winnings of at least $121,000.

Where Beasley Stands in the NBA Legally and Professionally

Beasley pleaded not guilty on July 1, 2026, in Brooklyn federal court. He has played for six NBA teams in nine years.

He sat out the most recent season because he was under investigation. A trial date in May 2027 means that cloud won’t lift soon.

Why the Beasley-Davis Case Matters for Prop Bettors

This case is about player props. Prosecutors allege the bets targeted unders on an individual player’s stat lines, the same markets many bettors play every night.

Guilty pleas could bring more detail on how the alleged scheme worked. That record may shape how sportsbooks and leagues police prop markets going forward. Sports betting integrity issues aren’t limited to the NBA, either, as a college basketball point-shaving indictment shows.

Watch the court docket closely. The next names to plead will tell you plenty about the likely direction of this case.