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Silverman Charged in Fresno State Gambling Scandal

A former sportsbook trader has been officially charged with gambling fraud for his role in the Fresno State betting scandal. Samuel Silverman allegedly helped distribute more than $15,000 in winnings after helping to fix three player props in a basketball game. Silverman’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 4th.

What Was Silverman’s Role in the Fresno State Betting Scandal?

Samuel Silverman, a former DraftKings trader, is accused of funding and distributing the proceeds from fixed college basketball prop bets. Silverman is the first person charged in Nevada related to Mykell Robinson’s betting scandal at Fresno State.

Robinson is accused of intentionally underperforming to ensure the “unders” hit on his totals markets for San Jose’s game against Colorado State on January 7th, 2025.

Silverman and his other co-conspirators are accused of placing three bets on Robinson’s unders, winning $15,950 in the process.

In addition to funding the bets and distributing the winnings, Silverman is accused of using his connections at Fresno State to recruit Robinson into the scheme in the first place. Silverman used to work as a team manager for the Bulldogs’ basketball team.

Who Else Was Involved?

Silverman and Robinson were not the only ones involved in the Fresno State prop betting scandal. Matthew Martin, another former trader and Silverman’s college roommate, is accused of placing the three fixed prop bets.

Robinson also told two of his former teammates, Steven Vasquez and Jalen Weaver, about his plans to underperform in the game against Colorado State. Vasquez and Weaver allegedly used that information to place wagers on the game.

Which Props Were Fixed?

Robinson intentionally played poorly against Colorado State on January 7th, 2025. This allowed the others involved in the scheme to bet on the unders for numerous props, including Robinson’s:

• Total points
• Assists
• Rebounds
• Three-pointers made

Weaver placed separate wagers on DFS markets pertaining to his and Robinson’s performances.

Silverman Charged With Fraud

Silverman is the first to be charged and arrested for the Robinson betting scandal at Fresno State. His felony charges include:

• Conspiracy to cheat a gambling game
• Commission of a fraudulent act in a gaming establishment

The charges came after the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) investigated Silverman’s role in the prop fixing scheme. Silverman’s charges are both Class C felonies that could result in up to five years in prison and heavy fines. He has pled not guilty to both counts.