Malik Beasley’s wife, Montana Yao’s father, moved to the United States in 1965 and joined the US Army in 1975.
Federal authorities are investigating Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley on allegations of gambling related to NBA games and prop bets, sources told ESPN on Sunday, June 29, 2025.
The allegations are from the 2023-24 season, when Beasley played for the Milwaukee Bucks.
He averaged 11.3 points in 79 games that season, during which he made a career-high 77 starts.
At least one prominent U.S. sportsbook detected significant betting interest in Beasley’s statistics starting around January 2024 in the gambling industry.
A gambling industry source pointed to a game between the Bucks and the Portland Trail Blazers on January 31, 2024.
The odds of Beasley recording fewer than 2.5 rebounds moved at sportsbooks before the game, shortening from around +120 to around -250 due to a surge of action on the under.
Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, said,
“An investigation is not a charge,” “Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the U.S. Constitution. As of now he has not been charged with anything.”
Steven Haney
Haney told ABC News in a brief phone interview Sunday afternoon that he has been in touch with prosecutors in the U.S.
Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York, which he understands is leading the investigation.
Beasley and the Pistons were in talks on a three-year, $42 million contract to bring the free agent sharpshooter back to Detroit, but now talks are on pause.
The Pistons told on Sunday that they are aware of an investigation into Beasley and are deferring further comment to the NBA. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said,
“We are cooperating with the federal prosecutors’ investigation,”
Mike Bass
Malik Beasley’s Wife, Montana Yao’s Father, Holds Asian Heritage While Her Mother Holds European Heritage
Born on August 5, 1997, in Newport Beach, California, Montana Helena Klein Yao, 28, was raised by her father, Paul Yao, and her mother, Gina Lee Klein Yao.
Her father, Paul, was a citizen of Hong Kong and holds Asian heritage.
He moved to the United States in 1965 and joined the US Army in 1975.
On the other hand, Montana’s mother, Gina, has a European heritage but was born and raised in California, United States.
Gina currently co-owns a brand named JaggerEdge, which was founded on June 16, 2009.
According to Gina’s Facebook profile, she resides in La Quinta, California, and attended Reseda High School.
Paul and Gina always supported Montana in becoming a model and an entrepreneur.
Montana Yao Accused China Of Ripping Her Mother’s Business Idea
Montana Yao, the wife of Detroit Pistons player Malik Beasley, has established a notable portfolio in the fashion industry.
The Miss Malibu Teen USA 2016 has a strong social media presence, which she used to promote her mother’s brand, “JaggerEdge.”
Montana reposted a post from her mother’s brand on her Instagram story. However, it was a lengthy caption on the post that stood out.
While she was trying to promote her own business, she also accused China of stealing her mother’s business idea.
In the caption, she hailed her mother’s strength and knack for practical business ideas.
She also added that it was her mother, Gina, who was the first creator of “the studded iPhone covers.”
As per Montana, China stole her mother’s idea. She said,
“She created the first ever studded iPhone covers back when the first iPhone came out but China ripped her off too fast and she lost a lot of business on an idea SHE created from scratch out of her own brain!”
Montana Yao
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Malik JonMikal Beasley attended Saint Francis School in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he was a four-star recruit. He played college basketball for the Florida State Seminoles.
- Beasley was arrested for marijuana possession, concealing stolen property, and for an incident in which he brandished a firearm.
- He pleaded guilty to the felony charge of making a threat of violence in December 2020 and was sentenced to serve 120 days in jail, with confinement occurring after the conclusion of the 2020-21 NBA season.
