Ed Davis schedules guilty-plea hearing in player-props betting case linked to Malik Beasley
Davis set his plea hearing for 10 Dec 2026, one day after Beasley’s court appearance.
Key Takeaways
- Ed Davis set a guilty-plea hearing for 10 December 2026 in the federal sports-bribery case.
- Malik Beasley’s hearing is scheduled for 9 December 2026; he started 77 games for the Bucks in 2023-24.
- Prosecutors cite Beasley’s fourth rebound on 10 March 2024 as a key piece of evidence in the alleged player-props scheme.
- Investigators named Paolo Zamorano, Ernesto Plascencia, Robert Gorodetsky and William Brown as alleged participants; bets reportedly totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Ed Davis has scheduled a guilty-plea hearing on federal sports-bribery charges for 10 December 2026, one day after Malik Beasley appears in court on 9 December 2026. Federal prosecutors allege both former players collaborated in an operation to manipulate NBA player-props bets during the 2023-24 season.
Key evidence: the late rebound on 10 March 2024
The federal probe identifies a specific moment in the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Clippers game on 10 March 2024 as central evidence. With Milwaukee up by seven points in the final seconds, Beasley grabbed his fourth rebound, putting him over the 3.5 rebounds line set in player-props markets and producing winnings for those who wagered the over. Prosecutors say Beasley communicated his expected performance to Davis, and that Davis then shared that information with other participants in the scheme.
Investigators named Paolo Zamorano, Ernesto Plascencia, Robert Gorodetsky and William Brown among the alleged participants. According to authorities, the group targeted player-props markets for points and rebounds across several Bucks games, including matchups versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets. Prosecutors state that bets totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars were placed using non-public information.
Hearing schedule and player backgrounds
Davis will appear before United States Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on 10 December 2026 for a guilty-plea hearing. Beasley, who pleaded not guilty in July 2026, previously notified the court he also intends to change his plea; his hearing is set for 9 December 2026.
The two were teammates with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020-21. Beasley joined the Milwaukee Bucks in July 2023 and started in 77 games during the 2023-24 campaign. Federal filings cited by the investigation show Davis contacted Beasley on 29 December 2023, the day Milwaukee played Brooklyn, and in messages Davis wrote that "the only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting" and that they could make "good money."
"the only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting," Ed Davis wrote to Malik Beasley, according to the documents cited by investigators.
Formal charges and case context
Federal prosecutors charged Davis with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, sports bribery, conspiracy to commit honest-services wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The prosecution places this case within a broader federal inquiry into corruption in sports betting involving professional basketball players.
In separate matters, former players Jontay Porter and Damon Jones have already pleaded guilty in federal cases related to betting.
Professional history and additional details
Ed Davis was selected with the 13 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and played 12 seasons, ending his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2021-22 season. During his time with the Brooklyn Nets he averaged 8.6 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game that season for the franchise. Before the NBA, Davis helped the University of North Carolina win the 2009 NCAA championship. In 2023 he had a short spell with Puerto Rico’s Mets de Guaynabo.
The investigation uses text-message communications, betting-activity patterns and the play on 10 March 2024 as pieces of evidence presented by prosecutors.
For tracking hearings and regulatory fallout in sports markets, this coverage links to our sports section and to developments in regulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the court appearances for Ed Davis and Malik Beasley?
Beasley is scheduled to appear on 9 December 2026; Davis has a guilty-plea hearing set for 10 December 2026 before Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
What specific event do prosecutors cite as evidence in the investigation?
Prosecutors highlight the rebound Malik Beasley grabbed on 10 March 2024 against the Los Angeles Clippers — his fourth of the game — which pushed him over the 3.5-rebound line in player-props markets; that play is cited alongside text messages and betting activity.
What federal charges does Ed Davis face?
Davis is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, sports bribery, conspiracy to commit honest-services wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to federal filings.
Who are the other individuals identified in the investigation?
Investigators identified Paolo Zamorano, Ernesto Plascencia, Robert Gorodetsky and William Brown as alleged participants in the operation that placed bets based on non-public information.
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About the author
Renata Quiroga
Betting Markets Correspondent
Renata Quiroga covers sports betting and prediction markets — sportsbook launches, odds technology, event contracts, and the regulatory calls that decide what can be bet on and where. The reports open with the product or the ruling, name operators and platforms precisely, and explain the mechanics without needless jargon. When a book enters a Latin American market or a prediction exchange lists a contested contract, Renata Quiroga reports what changes for the bettor.
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