Shane Hennen: Meet The Gambling Ringleader For Massive Betting Scandal
Sports fans bet and watch the first games of the NCAA basketball tournament at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Thursday, March 21, 2019, in East Rutherford.
Meadowlands March Madness Gambling
Meet Shane Hennen, one of the gambling masterminds behind a sports-betting conspiracy involving fixed games in college basketball and the Chinese Basketball Association.
Who is Shane Hennen?
“Sugar Shane” Hennen finds himself in hot water with the authorities.
Last week, federal prosecutors unsealed indictments detailing a scheme to fix basketball games in the NCAA and CBA. Nearly 40 people were mentioned in the indictment, including several current and former college players.
Before transitioning into sports betting, Hennen was convicted of several drug and gambling charges. In 2006, Henned received probation for a scheme involving loaded dice. Three years later, a former Duquesne University basketball player accused Hennen of stabbing him in the neck after allegedly cheating in a card game.
After multiple felonies, Hennen agreed to testify and participate in a federal drug sting. Hennen spent over two years in jail and four years of supervised release.
Hennen testified that he cheated people out of money for a living.
Despite getting out of prison, Hennen almost immediately returned to gambling, and by 2015, he moved to Philadelphia.
Hennen found success in poker and baccarat, which allowed him to make substantial sports bets.
In 2022, Hennen created “Sugar Shane Wins,” an online betting consultancy where he revealed sports picks for money.
The consultancy was a facade for his real scheme, which involved overseas betting and the help of handicapper Marves Fairley and basketball player Antonio Blakeney.
Hennen and Fairley bribed Blakeney, a player in the CBA, to play poorly so they could bet against the other teams.
Hennen was placing and winning six-figure bets on Chinese basketball. The success in China led to Hannen attempting to emulate his scheme in college basketball.
Shane Hennen and the NCAA Scandal
Hannen and Fairley took their scheme to college basketball, recruiting trainers Jalen Smith and Roderick Winkler to join their operation.
With the help of Smith and Winkler, Hannen convinced 39 players on over 17 Division I teams to rig games.
Hennen would text other bettors to place his wagers, which continued to be substantial amounts of money. Many of Rivers’ bets were being placed at Philadelphia’s Rivers Casino.
By 2024, several bets were flagged for suspicious activity, including six on Temple’s basketball team over alleged point shaving.
The tipping point involved Raptors center Jontay Porter, who was banned for life from the NBA after being accused of rigging player props. Porter pleaded guilty to gambling charges. Hennen was later accused by federal prosecutors of placing fraudulent bets on Porter and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. With Rozier, Hennen and Fairley have been accused of convincing Rozier to throw games.
Hennen has entered plea negotiations with federal prosecutors. He is currently residing in South Philadelphia.
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