A Las Vegas DraftKings employee has been identified in court records as the suspect arrested in the point-shaving probe involving the Fresno State University basketball program.
Samuel Silverman, 23, faces one felony count of committing a fraudulent act at a gaming establishment and another felony count of attempting or conspiring to cheat at a gambling game.
His attorney, Michael Pariente, said Wednesday that Silverman, who was released from custody on $12,000 bail, has pleaded not guilty.
“We will not try this case in the court of public opinion,” Pariente wrote in a statement. “We’ll try it in a court of law, where the State’s evidence will be tested — and we’re confident it won’t hold up.”
DraftKings said Silverman no longer works for the company and condemned the alleged conduct.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board accused Samuel Silverman and alleged co-conspirators — former DraftKings employee Matthew Martin, Fresno State forward Mykell Robinson and San Jose State guard Steven Vasquez — of conspiring to place prop bets on Robinson’s deliberate under-performance.
The bets were tied to Fresno State’s Jan. 7, 2025, Mountain West Conference game against Colorado State.
Robinson texted ‘we eating GOOD off this $200 flip’
Authorities say the four collectively profited nearly $16,000 from the scheme.
Martin, who the board said placed the wagers at an MGM sportsbook, received $11,325; Silverman, $3,000; Robinson, $1,425; and Vasquez, $200. Martin and Silverman were roommates, according to investigators.
Silverman previously worked for the Fresno State Basketball program and served as the link between the basketball players and Martin, a Nevada Gaming Control Board agent said.
The NCAA conducted its own investigation into the alleged conspiracy. As a result, both Vasquez and Robinson were released from their basketball programs and expelled from their universities.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board subpoenaed documents and interviews from the NCAA investigation and Fresno State’s internal probe into Robinson. Authorities also collected cellphone records.
In one message from the morning before the game, Mykell Robinson asked his mother, Michelle Robinson, to send Vasquez money on his behalf, according to the report.
“We eating GOOD off this $200 flip,” Mykell Robinson wrote.
Authorities said there were no text messages to suggest that Michelle Robinson knew about the specific wagers or Robinson’s intention to underperform.
The report alleged that Michelle Robinson sent the money to Vasquez, who sent $1,000 to Silverman. Silverman then sent the money to Martin, who contributed his own funds and placed three separate wagers from $200 to $800, with the highest paying $5,800, according to authorities.
All three wagers won, and after the game, the winnings were paid from Martin to Silverman, from Silverman to Vasquez, and finally to Robinson, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
It is unclear whether the Robinsons, Vasquez, or Martin will face criminal charges in connection with the bets.
Silverman is due in court again in August.
Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.
