Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted in Brooklyn on multiple charges related to an alleged scheme to manipulate bets on their pitches during games. The charges include wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and conspiracy for money laundering.
The indictment states that both pitchers agreed in advance with co-conspirators to throw specific types and speeds of pitches, which the co-conspirators then used to place wagers. Reports indicate that in some cases, they received bribes and kickback payments, which were funneled through third parties in exchange for their participation in the rigging of pitches.
The alleged operation involved unnamed third-party bettors who reportedly made over $400,000 from betting involving Clase and Ortiz. It is claimed that the pitchers also contributed funds to their co-conspirators for placing these bets.
The scheme was coordinated via cellphones during games, which violates Major League Baseball (MLB) rules unless in special circumstances. Furthermore, both pitchers are facing potential lifetime bans from the sport for contravening league regulations regarding betting on their own games.
If convicted, Clase and Ortiz could face sentences of up to 65 years in prison, making it unlikely they would be able to return to professional baseball before aging out of competition.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/817425/cleveland-guardians-pitchers-indicted-for-rigging-online-bets