Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase could each spend up to 65 years in jail for allegedly manipulating pitches to allow wagerers to win hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The US Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York indicted Clase and Ortiz, pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians, on Sunday. While Clase is not in custody at this time, Ortiz was arrested in Boston and will appear in court for the first time today.
US Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. stated, “As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches.” By doing this, the defendants denied their honest services to Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Guardians. The online betting sites where the wagers were made were deceived by them. They also betrayed America’s hobby.
“Fair play, honesty, and integrity are fundamental to professional sports. When corruption permeates the sport, it not only brings shame to the athletes but also undermines public confidence in a crucial and beloved institution for all of us. The accusations on Sunday demonstrate that our Office will keep up its robust prosecution of individuals who use illicit means to corrupt sports.
Pitches reimbursed for purported throws
ALSO READ: M.L.B. Bans Individual Pitch Bets Following Gambling Charges
According to reports, Clase started using manipulated pitches in May 2023. The pitches he planned to throw as balls, typically the opening pitch of an at-bat, were disclosed to his sports betting associates beforehand, occasionally during games. This made it possible for the wagerers to wager on Clase’s outing’s first throw.
According to the indictment, many of those pitches were in the dirt and far outside the strike zone to “ensure certain pitches were called as balls.”
In order to finance the plan, Clase allegedly occasionally gave the bettors cash.
In their bogus wagers, the co-conspirators won at least $400,000.
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