The charges follow a Nevada investigation into suspicious player prop bets involving Fresno State players that previously resulted in lifetime NCAA bans for two former players.
A former DraftKings sports trader is facing felony charges in Nevada for allegedly participating in a betting scheme involving a former Fresno State basketball player who prosecutors say intentionally underperformed in a 2025 game to profit.
According to investigative records obtained by ESPN, former DraftKings Sportsbook employee Samuel Silverman was arrested in Las Vegas on May 5. Authorities charged him with the commission of a fraudulent act in a gaming establishment and conspiracy to cheat at a gambling game, both Class C felonies under Nevada law.
Silverman has pleaded not guilty.
“We will present a vigorous defense of Mr. Silverman in a court of law based on evidence and facts — not in the court of public opinion, polluted by bias, speculation, and rumor,” his attorney, Michael D. Pariente, said
The charges stem from a Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) investigation into suspicious betting activity linked to Fresno State’s basketball team.
Investigators Allege $15,950 Player Prop Betting Scheme
According to ESPN’s review of investigative records, authorities allege that Silverman participated in a conspiracy with former Fresno State player Mykell Robinson, Robinson’s former teammate Steven Vasquez, and former DraftKings sports trader Matthew Martin.
DraftKings confirmed Silverman and former colleague Matthew Martin worked as sports traders in its Las Vegas office during 2025. A spokesperson told ESPN that neither employee had responsibility for setting college basketball odds.
Investigators say Martin placed three same-game parlays totaling $2,200 on Robinson’s unders in points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers for Fresno State’s game against Colorado State on Jan. 7, 2025. Robinson played only 21 minutes, finishing with three points, two rebounds and no assists. The scheme resulted in approximately $15,950 in winnings.
Authorities further allege Silverman helped distribute the betting proceeds after the settlement of the wagers. Investigators identified approximately $11,325 in proceeds attributed to Martin, $3,000 to Silverman, $1,425 to Robinson and $200 to Vasquez.
The charges follow the NCAA’s September 2025 investigation, which found Robinson, Vasquez and former Fresno State player Jalen Weaver violated NCAA gambling rules. The three former players were permanently ruled ineligible.
At the time, the NCAA said that Robinson and Vasquez coordinated wagers on Robinson’s performance before the Jan. 7 game, resulting in $2,200 in bets that paid approximately $15,950. Those figures align with the allegations detailed in the newly reported investigative records.
NGCB Says Additional Suspects Face Possible Charges
The NGCB announced in June that it had concluded its investigation into suspicious wagering involving “suspicious” Fresno State men’s basketball games during the 2024-25 season. It confirmed one arrest while warning that additional suspects remain under investigation.
The regulator said criminal charges against additional suspects are “being actively pursued.” NGCB Chairman Mike Dreitzer said the agency would continue aggressively investigating activity that threatens the integrity of regulated sports wagering.
Case Highlights Ongoing NCAA Betting Integrity Concerns
The charges mark the latest development involving alleged manipulation of college basketball player prop bets.
Earlier this year, former Eastern Michigan player Jalen Smith, a so-called fixer in a point-shaving scheme, pleaded guilty. At the same time, alleged bookmaker Marves Fairley later entered his own guilty plea in the same case. In June, the NCAA permanently ruled that former Iona player Adam Njie Jr. ineligible for his alleged involvement in the scheme.
Separately, the NCAA banned six players from the University of New Orleans, Mississippi Valley State University, and Arizona State University in November 2025 for gambling-related violations.
The governing body has repeatedly urged regulators, sportsbooks and prediction market operators to eliminate college player prop bets. The NCAA argues that these bets present the greatest integrity risks because individual athletes can influence statistical outcomes without necessarily affecting a game’s result.
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