Ernesto Plascencia, a longtime close friend of Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, has been arrested in connection with a federal indictment unsealed June 29, 2026 alleging a sports bribery and illegal betting scheme centered on former NBA player Malik Beasley.
Plascencia, 39, also known as “Erny” or “Ernie P,” was taken into custody Monday alongside other co-conspirators. He faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, according to prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York.
The indictment paints a picture of a coordinated effort to manipulate NBA player prop bets during the 2023-24 season. Prosecutors allege the group bribed Beasley, then with the Milwaukee Bucks, to under- or over-perform in specific statistical categories like points and rebounds. Using non-public information allegedly provided by Beasley, they placed targeted wagers that netted hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Ed Davis, a former NBA player and Beasley’s ex-teammate, reportedly served as the primary intermediary, with prosecutors describing Davis as Beasley’s “gatekeeper” in the scheme, while Plascencia is accused of acting as a middleman who relayed details to bettors such as William Brown and pressed for fixes or payouts when outcomes didn’t go as planned, an alleged pipeline that recalls other recent high-stakes NBA wagers, including Drake’s reported $1 million Timberwolves bet over the Lakers. Specific games referenced include matchups against the Cavaliers, Hornets, Clippers and Nets, with one late-game rebound by Beasley in March 2024 allegedly celebrated in group texts.
Other defendants include Robert Gorodetsky and NBA agent Paolo Zamorano. Beasley himself is among those charged, with reports indicating the scheme exploited his gambling debts, a pattern that mirrors how Drake’s publicly shared gambling losses have drawn fan and media scrutiny. All involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the ongoing case.
The news has drawn extra attention due to Plascencia’s prominent ties to Butler. Frequently described as one of the Heat forward’s best friends or right-hand man, Plascencia has been visible in Butler’s orbit for years, including interactions with Heat leadership like president Pat Riley. While no allegations or charges have been leveled at Butler, the connection has fueled intense online discussion and speculation among NBA and Heat fans.
The NBA and NBPA have acknowledged monitoring the federal investigation and are cooperating with authorities, emphasizing their commitment to preserving the integrity of the game, a federal criminal case structure now familiar from several high-profile sports and entertainment indictments over the past year. This case joins a series of recent probes into sports betting corruption across professional leagues.
Further details are expected to emerge as the defendants appear in New York federal court. Billboard will continue to follow developments.
