Former LSU football player Kayshon Boutte was taken into custody on Thursday on suspicion of participating in an illegal sports betting conspiracy. According to Louisiana State Police, Boutte used an alias to place bets on LSU, himself, and other events.
The wide receiver for the New England Patriots was charged with one count of felony computer fraud and one count of misdemeanor gaming forbidden to those under the age of twenty-one on Thursday in Baton Rouge.
Boutte allegedly made over 8,900 wagers, at least six of which were on LSU football, according to the police.
According to Louisiana law, a person found guilty of misdemeanor gaming under the age of 21 faces a maximum $500 fine or a maximum six-month jail sentence.
The offense of computer fraud carries a maximum penalty of $10,000 in fines or five years in jail.
Even if Boutte is found guilty of one or both charges, the maximum penalties for both crimes could still be substantially less than that.
The NFL has tightened its rules for wagering on games in the past year, but it is unclear how the league will handle Boutte’s predicament.
NFL players will now automatically receive a one-year suspension if they wager on NFL games. A player faces a two-season suspension if he bets on his own club. If a player is found to have fixed a game for financial gain, the league will ban them.
Players who wager on games that aren’t played in the NFL face much less severe penalties; the first infraction carries a two-game suspension. A three-game ban will be imposed for a third infraction, and a six-game punishment for the second.
