New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, a former LSU star, was arrested on Thursday for his involvement in an illegal online sports gaming scheme. He is accused of placing thousands of bets on various sporting events, including some that he played in, while he was still a minor and a college athlete.
Boutte Created a Fake Account and Used His Mother’s Credit Card
According to Louisiana State Police, Boutte created an online gaming account under the name of Kayla Fortenberry, a fictitious female, and used his own mother’s credit card to fund the account. He then placed more than 8,900 illegal bets between August 2022 and October 2023, when he was still under the age of 21 and not legally allowed to gamble.
The bets covered a range of sports, including NCAA football, NBA, NFL, MLB, and UFC. At least 17 of the bets were on NCAA football games, and six of them were on LSU games that Boutte participated in. He allegedly bet on himself to score at least one touchdown and to have over 82.5 receiving yards in a game against Florida State on September 4, 2022. He failed to achieve either of those outcomes, as he had only two catches for 20 yards and no touchdowns in that game.
Boutte’s illegal betting activities came to light when FanDuel Sportsbook contacted Louisiana State Police in July 2023, saying that “a prohibited person, a collegiate athlete, possibly made several sports wagers.” The investigation revealed that Boutte had won more than $500,000 from his bets, but he used most of that money to place additional bets. He only withdrew $50,282.36 from the account.
Boutte Faces Felony and Misdemeanor Charges
Boutte surrendered to authorities on Thursday and was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. He was charged with one felony count of computer fraud and one misdemeanor count of gaming prohibited for persons under 21. He was released after posting a $6,000 bond. Jail records did not indicate whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Computer fraud is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and a prison term of five years or less. Illegal gambling carries maximum penalties of a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.
Boutte’s NFL Career in Jeopardy
Boutte, who is now 21, is currently listed on the Patriots’ roster. He played in five games last season, catching four passes for 39 yards. He was a seventh-round draft pick by the Patriots in 2023, after he declared for the NFL draft following his junior year at LSU.
Boutte was a standout receiver for the Tigers, setting the SEC single-game record with 308 receiving yards against Ole Miss in 2022. He finished his college career with 142 receptions for 2,218 yards and 16 touchdowns in 27 games.
Boutte’s NFL career could be in jeopardy, as he faces possible disciplinary action from the league and the team. The NFL has a strict policy against gambling, which states that “any form of gambling or association with gamblers or gambling activity by NFL personnel is prohibited.” The policy also prohibits players from betting on any NFL game or any other professional or collegiate sporting event.
The Patriots and the NFL have both issued statements on Boutte’s arrest, saying that they are aware of the situation and are reviewing the matter.
