BREAKING: Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte Arrested
New England Patriots rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte has been arrested in Louisiana on charges related to illegal online gambling.
Boutte’s arrest was first reported by WAFB in Baton Rouge after a warrant was issued. The illegal gambling took place while he was an LSU player, investigators allege. However, WAFB sources said Boutte never bet “against himself” and his actions in LSU games are not in question.
(AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
According to WAFB's reporting: "While he was still a minor, Boutte is accused of creating a fraudulent online gaming account indicating that he was 21 years old or older and, therefore, legally allowed to gamble."
He is accused of using the fraudulent account to place approximately 9,000 bets, including six on LSU football games. WAFB says the wagers and payouts involved “several hundred thousand dollars.”
Boutte turned himself in on felony charges of Computer Fraud, and a misdemeanor count of Gaming Prohibited for Persons under 21.
Arrangements were made for Boutte to be booked, post a $6,000 bond, and then be immediately released from the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Boutte allegedly committed the crimes when he was under the age of 21, and not yet playing for the Patriots.
In the wake of Boutte's arrest, LSU released an official statement:
“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. 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.”
After being drafted in the sixth round in April 2023, Boutte appeared in five games for the Patriots this season with two catches for 19 yards.
