Parker Waters

Kevin Cross dribbles the ball during his sophomore year.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has charged dozens of National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball players, alumni and professional bettors with fixing nearly 30 basketball games since 2022. Among the 26 people charged is Tulane University forward Kevin Cross, who was allegedly bribed to underperform in a game between Tulane and East Carolina University in February 2024.

The indictment identifies Shane Hennen and Marvis Fairley, a content creator and self-described sports betting consultant, as the masterminds of the scheme. Both men were also charged last year in a separate sports betting case. According to the recent indictment, the men bribed college athletes with $10,000 to $30,000 per game to play poorly to fix games. 

According to the prosecution, Fairley, trainer Roderick Winkler and former NBA forward Antonio Blakeney told Cross that he needed to ensure Tulane did not “cover the spread” in the East Carolina game, so that Tulane would lose by a greater margin than betting markets expected. Cross was bribed with $30,000 if the scheme succeeded. He agreed to participate in the scheme. 

The indictment alleges that Fairley and others placed $140,000 in bets that Tulane would lose to ECU by more than 2.5 points. Cross scored only six points, well below his season average, and Tulane lost the game 67 to 81. 

Shortly after the game, the fixers arranged to give Cross $30,000 dollars in cash. The fixers also attempted to fix a game between the Florida Atlantic Owls and Tulane in March 2024, but Tulane covered the spread and the bettors lost $200,000.

Cross was charged with bribery in sporting contests and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, charges that could result in five and 20 years in prison, respectively.

In April 2025, Cross signed with the Mexican team Zonkeys de Tijuana. He has also played at Hunan Changsha, a minor league Chinese team.

Hennen and Fairley’s scheme allegedly began in September of 2022, initially focusing on fixing games of the Chinese Basketball Association, the country’s professional league. After the CBA season ended, the fixers moved to college basketball. 

Prosecutors said the scheme, which ran until February 2025, ultimately involved more than 39 players on 17 teams who shaved points in 29 games.

The other schools named in the indictment are Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Saint Louis University, LaSalle University, Fordham University, University at Buffalo, DePaul University, Robert Morris University, Southern Mississippi, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Kennesaw State University, Coppin State University, University of New Orleans, Abilene Christian University, Eastern Michigan University and Alabama State University.

Tulane is one of four Louisiana schools linked to the indictment.

Since the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, effectively legalizing sports betting nationwide, dozens of players and coaches have been suspended or fired for gambling violations.

In October 2025, 34 people, including Hennan and Fairley, were arrested following a yearslong investigation into NBA players and coaches working with Mafia families to use insider information to place bets.

“Tulane takes the integrity of intercollegiate athletics and the well-being of our student-athletes very seriously. We cooperate fully with the NCAA and, where appropriate, with law enforcement authorities. Because this matter involves an ongoing legal process, the university is unable to comment further at this time,” Tulane spokesperson Mike Strecker said.

Cross’s agent did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This is a developing story and may be updated.