Overview
- Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn unsealed charges accusing Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz of conspiring with bettors to influence individual pitches for illicit profits.
- Ortiz was arrested by the FBI at Boston Logan International Airport and was set to appear in federal court in Boston, while Clase was not in custody.
- The indictment details counts of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy, carrying maximum penalties that total up to roughly 65 years.
- Prosecutors cite alleged bribes tied to specific pitches on June 15 and June 27, 2025—$5,000 and $7,000 payments to Ortiz and matching sums to Clase—along with cash movements linked to the scheme.
- Authorities say co-conspirator bettors won at least about $450,000; MLB says it referred the matter to federal law enforcement, has both players on paid leave, and continues to investigate as Ortiz’s lawyer contests the allegations.