The Tampa Bay Rays have a gambling problem
The Tampa Bay Rays have a gambling problem. And, no, not an internal one. Rather, the Rays have been plagued by recent threatening social media messages made by a rogue sports gambler.
This sports gambler, Benjamin Tucker Patz, now faces up to five years in federal prison after sending these threatening messages to multiple players within the Rays organization. Sports gambling and betting have become a widely recognized and popular leisure activity, but with every vice, there’s a darker side to it.
Sports Bettor Charged with Threatening Tampa Bay Rays Players and Other Professional Athletes: Benjamin Tucker Patz of New York has been charged with transmitting threats in interstate or foreign commerce. https://t.co/p89TqClYgf
— FBI Tampa (@FBITampa) March 6, 2020
The Tampa Bay Rays have a gambling problem.
According to Action Network, sports betting is now legal in more than two dozen states across the United States. It’s gained wide popularity over the past few years with major sports news outlets including ESPN dedicating entire shows of programming to this content.
But, much like regular gambling, there’s an unfortunate darker side to it. Patz is the perfect example of this.
On Wednesday, Patz pleaded guilty to transmitting threats in interstate or foreign commerce during his trial in Tampa federal court. He was initially charged in 2020 after making numerous and violent threats against both athletes and their family members through anonymous Instagram accounts.
According to ESPN and court documents, some of these complaints went as far as Patz threatening to physically harm via “beheading” these players and their family members.
Tampa Bay players were not the only ones subject to the idiotic and irresponsible behavior by Patz. According to the original criminal complaint, there’s evidence that he sent similar messages to players from the Oakland Athletics, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, and Kansas City Royals.
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Unfortunately, the MLB was not the only professional American sports league to face the erratic behavior from Patz. He’s also been linked to threats made against the New England Patriots of the NFL following their Super Bowl victory over the Los Angeles Rams in 2019.
No date has been set for Patz’s sentencing hearing.