Key Figure in NBA, NCAA Sports Betting Scandals Faces Max 125 Years in Prison

• Shane Hennen, 41, pled guilty for his roles in two NBA and NCAA sports betting scandals
• Hennen faces a maximum prison sentence of 125 years for the charges
• Hennen also played a key role in a poker scandal involving former NBA player and coach Chauncey Billups

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Shane Hennen, 41, a Philadelphia-based gambler known as “Sugar Shane,” pled guilty in federal court Wednesday for his role in two sports betting scandals and a rigged-poker game scandal with mafia ties.

Hennen played a role in two recent sports betting scandals; one involving the NCAA and the Chinese Basketball Association, and another involving the NBA. The NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association scheme involved a group of conspirator bribing athletes to shave points in various matchups from 2022 through 2025. The NBA sports betting scandal involved defrauding sports betting operators through wagers made on games while having access to non-public information that would affect the outcomes of the matchups.

Hennen faces a maximum of 125 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1.75 million fine for his actions.

Figure in Both Scandals

Hennen this week pled guilty to charges including bribery and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his roles in the scandals.

Hennen faced charges for his role in a bribery and point-shaving scheme to fix NCAA Division I men’s basketball games and CBA games. According to a federal indictment released in January, 20 individuals were indicted for their various roles in the scheme.

The 20 individuals named in the indictment allegedly bribed 39 NCAA athletes on more than 17 NCAA Division I teams, leading to more than 29 games being fixed. According to the indictment, 15 of the individuals in the scheme played NCAA basketball in either the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 seasons.

Hennen also pled guilty for his role in an NBA sports betting scandal involving former NBA player Terry Rozier. During the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 NBA seasons, Rozier and several defendants allegedly used non-public information and plans from NBA players to leave games early to capitalize on a number of bets placed through online and retail sportsbooks.

The sports betting scandal, dubbed “Operation Nothing But Net” by the FBI, involved similar individuals who also orchestrated the sports betting scheme involving former Raptors center Jontay Porter. Porter pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in manipulating his performance outcomes and is awaiting sentencing. He has also been permanently banned from the NBA.

A federal investigation for Rozier was announced in January 2025, centering around a March 23, 2023 game when Rozier was a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier played less than 10 minutes in the game after leaving with what was described as a foot injury. Rozier averaged more than 35 minutes a game that season.

Individuals involved in the conspiracy knew when specific players would be sitting out futures games or who planned to pull themselves out of competition early, for purported injuries of illnesses.

The defendants placed bets on games involving the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, and Portland Trail Blazers, he said. They did so through online sports betting platforms and in-person at casino sportsbooks.

Another defendant in the NCAA and CBA sports betting scandals, Jalen Smith, was sentenced to six years in prison this week for his role in the schemes.

Role in Poker Scandal

Hennen also faces charges for his alleged role in rigged poker games with mafia ties. The poker scheme, dubbed “Operation Royal Flush” by the FBI, involved several New York Italian mafia families organizing rigged poker games to scam millions of dollars from its players. Thirteen members from New York mafia families have been indicted in the case.

The poker games were allegedly rigged by the mafia using sophisticated technology to ensure who would win, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars being scammed from players at the games. Several of the games used hidden cameras in poker chip trays, players using sunglasses with built-in X-ray technology, and altered shuffling machines.

Players were promised the opportunity to play with former NBA players and coaches Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones to lure them into the games.