Former DraftKings trader charged in Fresno State hoops betting plot

A former DraftKings sportsbook employee faces felony charges related to a betting scheme involving a Fresno Statemen's basketball player who allegedly manipulated his performance in a 2025 game, according to law enforcement records from the Nevada Gaming Control Board obtained by ESPN.

Samuel Silverman, who worked as a sports trader for DraftKings, was arrested May 5 in Las Vegas and charged with the commission of a fraudulent act in a gaming establishment and conspiracy to cheat at a gambling game, according to the records, which ESPN obtained through an open records request. The charges are Class C felonies, carrying penalties of one to five years in prison and fines.

Silverman has pleaded not guilty, according to his attorney, Michael D. Pariente.

"We will present a vigorous defense of Mr. Silverman in a court of law based on evidence and facts -- not in the court of public opinion, polluted by bias, speculation, and rumor," Pariente told ESPN in a statement. "We have no further comment."

The alleged scheme involved former Fresno State player Mykell Robinson, former teammate Steven Vasquez, Silverman and his former DraftKings colleague and roommate Matthew J. Martin, according to the records. Silverman was a manager for the Fresno State men's basketball team in 2022-23, according to the school.

The plot was centered on Robinson allegedly manipulating his performance in a game between Fresno State and Colorado State on Jan. 7, 2025, according to the records. Silverman is accused of moving money to facilitate bets on Robinson's statistics and receiving proceeds from the wagers.

No additional charges have been announced. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has said that "several additional suspects remain outstanding, and criminal charges are being actively pursued."

Martin did not respond to multiple messages left by ESPN. Robinson did not respond to a request for comment, and attempts to reach Vasquez were unsuccessful.

Vasquez and Robinson were roommates at Fresno State during the 2023-24 season, according to the NCAA. Vasquez transferred to San Jose State the following season, when the alleged scheme took place. In September, the NCAA announced that it found Robinson and Vasquez had violated its gambling statutes by their alleged participation in the scheme and ruled them permanently ineligible.

Silverman and Martin worked as sports traders at DraftKings' Las Vegas office in 2025, the company confirmed. They did not have any responsibilities setting college basketball odds, according to a DraftKings spokesperson.

The spokesperson said the company conducted a review of the matter and found no evidence that any internal information was used or had any bearing on customers.

DraftKings does not offer sports betting in Nevada but maintains an office in Las Vegas. ESPN has a business relationship with DraftKings.

"The alleged activity at issue did not occur on DraftKings' platform, and the individuals involved are no longer employed by the company," the DraftKings spokesperson told ESPN in a statement. "We strongly condemn the alleged conduct of these former employees and remain committed to protecting the integrity of sports and sports betting."

The Nevada Gaming Control Board, which regulates the gaming industry and has law enforcement powers, led the state investigation, which includes phone and financial records and cites independent investigations by the NCAA and Fresno State. The state's investigation concluded that there was a "clear conspiracy" to place wagers and profit from the "altered play of Mykell Robinson."

The records include text messages between Robinson and Vasquez ahead of the Jan. 7 game, which authorities say indicate Robinson's intention to say he was injured and play limited minutes.

"Playin lil first half may get couple stats," Robinson wrote, "then sitting," according to the records.

Robinson told Vasquez in the messages that he wanted to place a $200 parlay bet on his unders and later told contacts in a separate group chat that "roommate steve from last year called me and put me on, he placed it for me," according to the documents.

Ahead of the Jan. 7 game, BetMGM's sportsbook flagged three suspicious parlay bets on Robinson's statistics, including one for $200. Each parlay included the under on Robinson's points (10.5), assists (2.5), rebounds (5.5) and 3-pointers made (1.5), according to the records. A BetMGM supervisor told the investigator that Martin placed the bets, which totaled $2,200 at +625 odds, according to the records.

Robinson played just 21 minutes against Colorado State, finishing with three points on one 3-pointer, two rebounds and no assists. Martin's bets won a net $15,950, according to the records.

"At no point during Martin's wagering history did he wager any similar substantial amounts on prop bets for an NCAA basketball player and never wagered directly on Mykell Robinson," the report states. "Immediately following the game and payout, Martin withdrew his winnings to his PayPal and Bank of America accounts, then completing transactions to Silverman for distribution."

Directly after the game, Vasquez received an electronic payment from Silverman for $1,225, the net amount won on the $200 parlay allegedly placed on Robinson's behalf, according to the records. Vasquez subsequently sent $1,425 to Robinson's mother, who had transferred the initial $200 to Vasquez for the bet, according to the records. The report states that none of the text messages reviewed showed that Robinson's mother knew about the specific wagers being made.

Investigators included the amounts allegedly obtained by the four individuals in the case synopsis: Martin $11,325; Silverman $3,000; Robinson $1,425; and Vasquez $200. Combined, the payouts equal the $15,950 won on the bets placed at BetMGM.

Two days after the Jan. 7 game, Fresno State coach Vance Walberg received an anonymous tip from the parent of a player that Robinson might be betting on sports, according to a summary of Fresno State's investigation included in the gaming control board's records. Walberg reported that he had noticed a change in Robinson's play, especially in the Colorado State game in which Robinson seemed "checked out," according to the records.

In an interview with Fresno State compliance staff referenced in the gaming control board's report, Robinson said he did not bet on sports while he was an active member of the team and that his "bum ankle" accounted for his poor performance against Colorado State. He added that he never asked anyone to bet on his behalf and never felt pressured to perform a certain way or cover a spread.

According to the records, gaming control board agents briefly interviewed Martin at the DraftKings office in Las Vegas on Oct. 23, 2025. They asked Martin why he thought they were speaking with him. "I'm guessing this has to do with sports integrity then?" Martin said, before a person who said he represented DraftKings' legal team asked that the questioning stop, according to the records. DraftKings does not dispute anything in the state's report, according to the spokesperson.

During the investigation, a gaming control board agent requested the betting history for Silverman and Martin from all major Nevada sportsbooks. The agent found that Silverman wagered on Robinson's statistics in a subsequent game, according to the records. He included the over on Robinson's rebounds and points in a $100 four-leg parlay he placed with a Caesars Sportsbook on Jan. 11, 2025, according to the report. Silverman's bet lost, with Robinson failing to reach the overs in a game against Nevada.

The report states that an executive for Caesars Sportsbook told a gaming control board agent that Silverman mainly placed small bets throughout his history with the company, "but did periodically bet larger amounts on college basketball games." The Caesars executive told the investigator that they had already been monitoring Silverman's account since he worked for DraftKings.Sportsbook employees in Nevada are permitted to place bets with operators in the state other than their employer.

The gaming control boardannounced on June 11 that it had concluded an investigation into "suspicious sports wagering activity involving Fresno State men's basketball games during the 2024-25 season" and that it had made an arrest for violations related to the case.

"The Nevada Gaming Control Board remains committed to protecting the integrity of Nevada's gaming industry and will continue to aggressively investigate any activity that threatens the fairness and public confidence of regulated sports wagering," chairman Mike Dreitzer said in the release.

ESPN researcher John Mastroberardino contributed to this report.