Major League Baseball Pitchers Indicted on Bribery Charges

NEW YORK — Two Major League Baseball pitchers were indicted Sunday on charges they took bribes to give sports bettors advance notice of the types of pitches they’d throw and intentionally tossed balls instead of strikes to ensure successful bets.

Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both of whom pitched for the Cleveland Guardians, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July while Major League Baseball investigated unusually high in-game betting activity when they pitched.

Clase, 27, and Ortiz, 26, were both charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. The top charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison in the event of a conviction.

The Investigation and Arrest

Ortiz was arrested by the FBI on Sunday morning at Boston Logan International Airport. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday.

Major League Baseball said it contacted federal law enforcement when it began investigating the unusual betting activity and “has fully cooperated” with authorities. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” its statement said.

Response from the Teams

In a statement, the Guardians said: “We are aware of the recent law enforcement action, We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.”

A lawyer for Ortiz declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press and a lawyer for Clase did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

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Conclusion

The indictment of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz is a serious development in the world of Major League Baseball. The charges against them are severe and could result in significant prison time if they are convicted. The investigation is ongoing, and it will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the charges against Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz?

A: Clase and Ortiz are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy.

Q: What is the potential punishment for these charges?

A: The top charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison in the event of a conviction.

Q: What is the current status of the investigation?

A: The investigation is ongoing, and Major League Baseball is fully cooperating with federal law enforcement.