Among the 20 people indicted for their participation in a scheme to rig college basketball games are two former DePaul University players, whom prosecutors allege shaved points in DePaul’s Feb. 24, 2024, game against the Georgetown University men’s basketball team.
Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which covers Philadelphia and the surrounding area, unsealed the indictment Jan. 15. The indictment alleges Jalen Terry and Da’Sean Nelson, who both played for DePaul in the 2023-24 season, took a $40,000 bribe to ensure that DePaul would not cover the spread in the first half against Georgetown. The indictment also alleged another unnamed DePaul player intentionally “underperformed” in the game, but he was not charged with a crime.
The indictment accuses the DePaul players of being part of a larger conspiracy to rig men’s basketball games and attempted to shave points at other games during the 2023-24 season.
Terry and Smith each were charged with one count of sports bribery. If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.
Prosecutors said Terry and Smith were recruited by another DePaul player, Micawber Etienne, who was charged separately in November 2025, and entered into a plea agreement in December 2025, according to court records.
At the time of the game in question, both the Hoyas and DePaul were bottom-dwellers of the Big East. DePaul finished that season winless in conference play, and Georgetown’s two Big East wins were their games against the Blue Demons.
In the first half of that game, the Hoyas outscored DePaul 41-28. Terry played 10 minutes and did not attempt a single shot, while recording two fouls and three turnovers. Nelson scored 6 points. Etienne played one minute in the game and did not record a stat in that brief appearance.
In the second half, DePaul came back and narrowly lost, 77-76. At the time, The Hoya reported that DePaul’s second-half rejuvenation was surprising, and that their “halftime team talk seemed to be more effective” than Georgetown’s. In the second half alone, Terry scored 16 points and Nelson scored 10. Prosecutors specifically noted Terry’s performance difference between halves in the indictment as evidence of point shaving.
In addition to the DePaul players indicted, a former Hoya will face charges.
Bradley Ezewiro, who played for Georgetown in the 2022-23 season, was also charged with sports bribery for events that prosecutors allege occurred during his time at St. Louis University. Ezewiro transferred out of the Hilltop after former Head Coach Patrick Ewing (CAS ’85) was fired.
Georgetown Athletics issued a statement saying they were aware of the allegations against the DePaul players and Ezewiro, but noted that Georgetown was not involved in any point shaving.
“While we are aware of indictments made against a player who previously attended Georgetown and separately against members of an opposing team during an away game,” the statement reads, “we are not aware of any misconduct or allegations of misconduct against former players while they were playing for Georgetown. We will continue to monitor this matter and continue to review our practices to ensure that Georgetown Athletics is in full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.”
Georgetown Head Coach Ed Cooley said he condemned point shaving and did not understand why highly paid college athletes would risk their futures.
“I know it’s really prevalent,” Cooley told The Hoya. “I know we have to speak to our student-athletes a lot about it, because of the ramifications it could have — not when they’re in school, but when they’re out of the school and the carnage it leaves behind.”
“It’s impermissible. You’re not supposed to do it,” Cooley added. “I don’t understand why these student-athletes continue to think that that’s going to be the best thing for them moving forward, especially now that we’re paying the players.”
The Big East did not respond to a request for comment at time of publication.
NCAA President Charlie Baker said the college athletics governing body cooperated with federal prosecutors to bring charges.
“Protecting competition integrity is of the utmost importance for the NCAA. We are thankful for law enforcement agencies working to detect and combat integrity issues and match manipulation in college sports,” Baker wrote in a statement.
“The pattern of college basketball game integrity conduct revealed by law enforcement today is not entirely new information to the NCAA,” Baker added. “Through helpful collaboration and with industry regulators, we have finished or have open investigations into almost all of the teams in today’s indictment.”
