Former NBA player Malik Beasley pleaded not guilty to multiple allegations during an arraignment in a federal Brooklyn court Wednesday, according to Los Angeles Magazine's Lauren Conlin.
Key Takeaways
- Beasley entered his plea in a federal court in Brooklyn.
- The ex-Detroit Pistons guard was released on a $100,000 bond.
- Federal prosecutors allege Beasley manipulated game performances.
It was the first time Beasley appeared in front of a judge since he was indicted by federal prosecutors Monday on charges of fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy.
NBA’s Malik Beasley and his attorney, Jason Goldman, outside court following Beasley’s federal arraignment, where he pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and bribery. After the hearing, Goldman said Beasley “looks… pic.twitter.com/OCT9FAJ1Am
— Lauren Conlin (@conlin_lauren) July 1, 2026
NBA player agent Paolo Zamorano also pleaded not guilty.
Beasley and former teammate Ed Davis have been accused of agreeing to a gambling scheme that allegedly had Beasley manipulating his game performance to pay off debts to Davis, who shared this information with a group of bettors.
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Fighting charges
Beasley was released on a $100,000 bond.
“Mr. Beasley looks forward to fighting,” Jason Goldman, his attorney, said outside the courtroom. “There’s a bigger conversation here about the industry, about individuals and institutions that are profiting billions and billions of dollars and fueling addiction.
“This is only the beginning of things. An arrest means nothing. An indictment means nothing, and that has to mean something: that he’s presumed innocent. Today was a formality, and we look forward to moving on with the case.”
Beasley faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud, 20 years for money laundering, and another five years for bribery if convicted.
The alleged scheme
Federal prosecutors allege Beasley agreed to manipulate his performance in at least three games so the unders on his player props could hit. In one game, he allegedly agreed to go over his rebounding total, grabbing a late board to surpass the betting line of 3.5 rebounds.
Davis and alleged co-conspirators Zamorano, William Brown, Robert Gorodetsky, and Ernesto Plascencia were also charged in the scheme. Prosecutors released text messages between the defendants in the indictment.
Beasley missed the entire 2025-26 season while under investigation by the NBA for violating the league’s gambling policy. The Detroit Pistons had planned to re-sign Beasley before the league began its probe. He most recently played in Puerto Rico's Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
