NCAA Basketball Fixer: Arkansas Man Admits Guilt in 29-Game Racket

Rodrick Winkler, a 32-year-old from Arkansas, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia. He admitted to bribery and wire fraud for his role in a point-shaving scheme that affected NCAA Division I basketball games between September 2022 and February 2025.

The guilty plea resolves charges from a January indictment that named 26 individuals. More than a dozen college basketball players were accused of trying to fix games. Winkler acted as a fixer, recruiting players and paying them to underperform so their teams would fail to cover betting spreads.

Court filings show the scheme involved 39 players across 17 different teams. They fixed or attempted to fix 29 NCAA games. Fixers offered players bribe payments that typically ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game. The group also fixed Chinese Basketball Association games before shifting focus to college basketball.

Bettors placed more than $3 million in fraudulent wagers on these games. Sportsbooks across the country reported financial losses exceeding $1.1 million as a result. The scheme’s financial impact is documented in the court records associated with the plea.

Winkler is scheduled for sentencing on February 8. He faces a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison. The court may also impose three years of supervised release and a fine.