Overview
- Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn unsealed charges including wire fraud and honest-services fraud conspiracies, bribery conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy against the two Cleveland pitchers.
- Luis Ortiz was arrested at Boston Logan Airport and set for a federal court appearance, while Emmanuel Clase was not in custody at the time of the announcement.
- Investigators allege prearranged first-pitch balls and slower sliders to target ball/strike and pitch-speed prop bets, citing texts and GIFs to show in-game coordination.
- The indictment details June 15 and June 27 games in which Ortiz allegedly threw rigged pitches for $5,000 and $7,000, with matching payments to Clase for arranging them.
- Prosecutors say bettors won at least $450,000; MLB placed both players on paid leave in July after integrity monitors flagged irregular wagering, and each faces up to 65 years in prison if convicted, with Ortiz denying wrongdoing through his attorney.