- Former DraftKings sports trader Samuel Silverman was arrested in May and is being charged with multiple Class C felonies for allegedly being involved in a betting scheme with a former Fresno State player.
- Mykell Robinson allegedly manipulated his performance in a January 2025 contest in order to help Silverman, alongside former roommate and colleague Matthew Martin, win thousands of dollars in wagers.
LAS VEGAS – Charges have been filed against a former DraftKings employee relating to an alleged betting scheme in which a player on the Fresno State men’s basketball team purposely manipulated his stats at legal sports betting sites.
Samuel Silverman, formerly a DraftKings employee working as a sports trader, was arrested and charged with the commission of a fraudulent act in a gaming establishment and conspiracy to cheat at a gambling game, which are Class C felonies and carry penalties of 1-5 years in prison, alongside potential fines.
Silverman has pleaded not guilty to the charges and plans to maintain his innocence.
Former Fresno State men’s basketball player Mykell Robinson was at the center of the conspiracy, allegedly underperforming in the team’s game against Colorado State in January of 2025 on purpose to help Silverman and others profit from rigged wagers. Silverman was a manager for Fresno State during the 2022-23 season according to the school.
Another former Fresno State player – Steven Vasquez – and former DraftKings employee – Matthew Martin – were also named as co-conspirators by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Vasquez was Robinson’s teammate and roommate during the 2023-24 season before Vasquez transferred to San Jose State for 2024-25, when the alleged incident occurred. Martin was roommates with Silverman in college and a colleague after graduation.
According to records from BetMGM, Martin made multiple wagers totalling over $2,200 on the aforementioned game in January of 2025, resulting in just under $16,000 in winnings at college basketball betting sites. He is not facing any charges as of today.
The Gaming Control Board also found other evidence of conspiracy, such as phone and financial records, as well as other pertinent information found in separate investigations by the NCAA and Fresno State.
