Major League Baseball players Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz and Luis Leandro Ortiz Ribera face a series of charges in a sports betting scandal.
Both Cleveland Guardians athletes are accused of rigging their own pitches in MLB games so their inner circle—and sometimes themselves—could win bets on the rigged games, according to a statement by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York on Nov. 9.
“The defendants’ alleged greed not only established an unfair advantage for select bettors, but also sullied the reputation of America’s pastime,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher Raia said. “The FBI will ensure any individual who exploits their position as a professional athlete at the expense of others strikes out.”…