Explosive Exposé: Gambling Ring Tied to Pro and College Basketball Scandals

Shane Hennen, a relatively obscure sports betting figure self-described as “the best that ever did it,” recently found himself detained by federal agents while trying to board a plane from Las Vegas to Colombia via Panama, armed with a one-way ticket. At the time of his arrest, he possessed several mobile phones, nearly $10,000 in cash, and quickly volunteered that his trip was for dental work in Colombia.

Federal authorities have accused Hennen of playing a key role in what is considered one of the most extensive point-shaving conspiracies in the history of North American sports.

This scandal, involving both professional and collegiate basketball, has begun to surface in the media, yet the full extent of its reach remains largely unacknowledged. Last month, the office of the interim U.S. Attorney Carolyn Pokorny of the Eastern District of New York claimed substantial evidence linked Hennen to massive illegal monetary transactions and sports bets, amounting to millions of dollars in potentially illegal gains and money laundering activities.

The connections to game manipulation start with ex-Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter, who confessed to deliberately underperforming in games during 2024 to benefit gamblers. After pleading guilty to federal conspiracy to commit wire fraud in July 2024, Porter now awaits sentencing and faces a lifetime ban from the NBA. The case has ties to Terry Rozier, a notable NBA player currently with the Miami Heat, who was investigated for his performance in a 2023 game with the Charlotte Hornets. Although Rozier has not been charged and the NBA found no violations, the league continues to cooperate with the Eastern District investigations.

Porter’s involvement in the scheme was relatively straightforward: he accumulated large gambling debts and compensated by sabotaging his own performances. At the time, his salary was about $400,000. Federal and NCAA investigations are now probing potential connections between this gambling ring and betting activities on at least nine college games over the past two seasons, with at least five college teams being scrutinized.

The Justice Department has identified five individuals as co-conspirators in the Porter case alone, with four publicly named. Three of these—Timothy McCormack, Mahmud Mollah, and Long Phi “Bruce” Pham—have pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. A grand jury has indicted a fourth, Ammar Awawdeh, on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bribery in sports contests. The Justice Department indicated that Hennen would face charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering, though formal charges have been postponed as plea negotiations continue.

Following his arrest at the Las Vegas airport, the U.S. Attorney’s office noted that Hennen was apparently attempting to flee the country before a “Jan. 15 deadline.” The specific reasons behind this deadline remain unclear due to redactions in the public letter. However, court filings indicate ongoing plea negotiations, which may eventually reveal the full extent of the betting scandal should Hennen agree to testify truthfully.

Todd Leventhal, Hennen’s lawyer, stated that the case is still in its early stages and that they are reviewing all allegations. He expressed skepticism about the government’s portrayal of Hennen’s involvement, suggesting it may not hold up in court.

The U.S. Attorney’s office has described the evidence of Hennen’s guilt as “overwhelming,” including testimony, phone, financial, and betting records, though most of this evidence has not yet been made public.

The government has characterized several of Hennen’s schemes as “fraudulent.”

Through investigative journalism, court records, and other public data, efforts have been made to unravel the complex and risky gambling operations led by Shane Hennen.

Hennen’s history with the law dates back over two decades. In 2007, he admitted guilt to disorderly conduct, gambling-related misdemeanors, and a felony related to facsimile bombs, according to records from Pennsylvania. In November 2009, he faced charges of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment linked to a stabbing incident in his native Pittsburgh, to which he pleaded guilty. Shortly after this incident, Hennen was arrested outside the Meadows Casino in Pittsburgh for suspected cocaine dealing near a local Wendy’s, leading to his guilty plea on charges of driving under the influence and drug possession with intent to distribute. He served 30 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release.

In 2016, Hennen sought an early end to his supervised release citing health issues, including kidney cancer. However, his probation officer later contested his compliance, noting unauthorized out-of-state travels and large cash amounts linked to gambling activities. In 2017, he was again arrested for DUI in Missouri, where he was found with over $14,000 in cash, which he claimed were gambling winnings. This DUI charge was eventually dismissed.

Despite the well-known challenges of making a living through sports betting, Hennen openly markets his betting strategies. On his website, SugarShaneWins.com, he offers gambling tips at high prices, including daily and weekly packages. His promotional tactics feature images of a lavish lifestyle, complete with private jets, luxury cars, and piles of cash, presenting a stark contrast to his legal and financial troubles just a few years prior.

Justin Epifanio, the sportsbook manager at Rivers Casino in Philadelphia, acknowledged Hennen as a top bettor for several years, noting the significant amounts he wagered. Public records of Hennen’s betting include slips totaling over $2 million since 2020, though these only represent a fraction of his claimed gambling activities. Some of these slips, verified by QR codes, show substantial bets on both NFL and college games.

Hennen’s bet placements, sometimes reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars on single games, have raised eyebrows in the gambling community. A Las Vegas casino executive mentioned that such large bets on lesser-known games would prompt close monitoring of the bettor involved. Hennen’s account at this casino was eventually disabled following his arrest in January.

On Instagram, Hennen has posted about several large bets, including a $300,150 wager on a Duke-Virginia basketball game in March 2023, and bets on other college games. His betting activities, while legal, have drawn scrutiny from both the gambling industry and law enforcement.

In February 2024, Hennen recorded a video in a casino sportsbook promoting his betting picks for upcoming college basketball games, aiming to build a winning streak before March Madness. He encouraged his viewers to follow his bets closely, showcasing a $75,000 bet on Drake to cover a spread against Murray State.

While Hennen’s betting records are publicly visible, there’s no concrete evidence that these games were compromised. However, the high volume and size of his bets, especially on less prominent games, continue to fuel speculation and investigation into potential game-fixing.

Several poker professionals, including Matt Berkey, have expressed suspicions about Hennen’s activities in private games, suggesting possible cheating through rigged decks or collusion. In 2023, Berkey recounted an experience on his podcast, “Only Friends,” where he felt cheated by Hennen, who introduced himself under a false name. Hennen quickly left the game after winning a substantial pot and never returned to play again.

Despite these allegations, Hennen’s attorney has declined to comment on any specific cheating claims.

As for the integrity of Hennen’s sports bets, Epifanio remarked that while initially, there were no concerns, suspicions about the legitimacy of these wagers eventually emerged. The specific timing of these concerns and whether they have prompted any formal inquiries remain undisclosed.

In early 2024, Integrity Compliance 360, a gambling watchdog firm, began receiving reports of unusual betting patterns in several Temple University basketball games. This led to heightened scrutiny of these games by the firm and subsequent alerts to gaming regulators across the nation.

The unusual betting activity, particularly heavy betting on Alabama-Birmingham in a game against Temple, prompted the firm to issue a nationwide alert due to the abnormal movement of the betting lines. This game, along with others involving Temple, displayed patterns of betting that suggested potential manipulation, leading to significant wins for those who placed bets on Alabama-Birmingham.

ESPN recently reported on the betting activities linked to the gambling ring, including bets placed on Temple games that raised suspicions among sports betting monitors. These reports confirm ongoing investigations into the possibility that bets were placed through proxies to manipulate the outcomes of these college basketball games.

In most of these scrutinized games, Temple was significantly behind at halftime, aligning with betting patterns that favored their opponents. This type of betting could potentially be exploited by those looking to manipulate game outcomes, especially since sportsbooks offer lines for halves, allowing manipulators to affect the score in the first half and still attempt to win the game in the second.

Hysier Miller, Temple’s top scorer last season, was particularly under scrutiny, especially after his performance in the Alabama-Birmingham game where he scored below his average. Following the season, Miller transferred to Virginia Tech but was dismissed from the team before playing due to undisclosed reasons related to his time at Temple. He now plays professionally in Germany, and his attorney has declined to comment on the ongoing investigations.