On Thursday, New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was arrested in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for his alleged involvement in illegal sports betting during his time at LSU.
During his time on the team, Boutte is accused of creating a fake online gaming account as a minor to place nearly 9,000 wagers on various sporting events, including LSU football games.
Investigators from the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division found that at age 20, Boutte used an alias to bypass age restrictions and placed sports bets from April 6, 2022, to May 7, 2023.
According to police, 21-year-old Boutte has been charged by Louisiana State Police with a felony count of computer fraud and a misdemeanor count of gambling prohibited for individuals under 21. The ongoing investigation may lead to additional charges.
“In July 2023, LSU was made aware of allegations regarding a former student-athlete’s improper conduct related to sports gambling while enrolled at the University,” LSU said Thursday in a statement. “Since then, we have fully cooperated with all relevant authorities involved in the investigation and will continue to do so. We have no evidence that any other student-athletes participated in these prohibited activities, and we are grateful for measures that detect and discourage sports gambling-related misconduct.”
According to police, Boutte’s betting persisted for roughly a week after the Patriots drafted him in the sixth round of the 2023 draft.
The NCAA forbids players from betting on any sport, and athletes found to have wagered on their team and school face varying penalties.
