Two former college basketball players and one ex-sportsbook employee are staring at felony charges for their alleged participation in a gambling scandal, according to court documents.
- Two of the players involved lived together while attending Fresno State.
- A fourth man, also a sportsbook trader, was Fresno State’s team manager in 2022-23.
- One former player is still at large.
The individuals are accused of profiting from prop bets centered on a former Fresno State player, who fixed his performances to ensure the bets won.
The charges identify Steven Vasquez, a former basketball player at Fresno State and San Jose State, and Matthew J. Martin, who was employed by DraftKings as a sports trader in Las Vegas.
The pair were arrested in September and charged with committing a fraudulent act in a gaming establishment and attempting or conspiring to cheat at a gambling game.
An arrest warrant was also issued in August for former North Texas and Fresno State player Mykell Robinson, who is still at large, according to the District Attorney’s office. Robinson was roommates with Vasquez during the 2023-24 season and last played in an NCAA game on Jan. 11, 2025. He most recently appeared professionally for Ecuadorian LNB team Club Iccan de Macas.
Martin and Vasquez already pleaded not guilty to their charges, which are Class C felonies and could result in 1-5 years’ imprisonment and fines.
“Mr. Martin looks forward to proving his innocence in a court of law and doesn't intend to litigate the case in the press,” his attorney, Crane Pomerantz, told ESPN.
Vasquez’s representation did not provide a comment, ESPN reported.
A fourth man, Samuel Silverman, was arrested in May and faces similar charges to Martin and Vasquez. Silverman was also an employee at DraftKings’ Las Vegas office and pleaded not guilty.
Fresno State players fixed games
The scandal is one on a growing list of incidents that have occurred in professional and amateur sports. It pertains to a Jan. 7, 2025 game between Fresno State and Colorado State, which ended up being the penultimate game in Robinson’s NCAA career.
According to court documents and the NCAA, Robinson intentionally manipulated his performance to win bets for Vasquez, Martin, and Silverman, all of whom placed the under on his prop lines.
Robinson only played 21 minutes in the game, a 27-point loss for the Bulldogs. That’s despite averaging 33.5 minutes of action over the course of the season.
He was also passive as a shooter and overall inefficient while on the court, finishing 1-4 with three points, two rebounds, and one steal. He averaged 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists for the year.
Martin ultimately won $15,950 from his wagers, according to records obtained by ESPN.
Vasquez had already transferred to San Jose State by the time that the scheme took place. Silverman had connections to the basketball program after spending the 2022-23 season as its men’s team manager, the university revealed.
Neither Silverman nor Martin were responsible for setting college basketball odds during their employment in 2025, according to a DraftKings spokesperson. DraftKings also does not offer sports betting in Nevada, despite having a business office there.
Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account“The alleged activity at issue did not occur on DraftKings' platform, and the individuals involved are no longer employed by the company,” a company spokesperson told ESPN in July. “We strongly condemn the alleged conduct of these former employees and remain committed to protecting the integrity of sports and sports betting.”
Third player banned
The NCAA in September permanently banned Vasquez, Robinson, and a third Fresno State player, Jalen Weaver, from competing in college sports.
Although Weaver wasn’t included in the charges, he was guilty of participating in the betting ring. He “exchanged information” about his betting lines with Robinson, and Weaver bet a $50 parlay for Robinson and another student-athlete that won him $260. That winning ticket led to him losing his eligibility.
“The three cases were resolved via negotiated resolution in coordination with the student-athletes' schools, per infractions process operating procedures,” the NCAA’s Infractions Committee said in a statement. “Robinson and Vasquez informed the enforcement staff that they did not wish to participate in the processing of their respective cases. Weaver did participate and agreed to the violation in his case.”
