A sports activities bettor that despatched demise threats to skilled athletes obtained three years of probation from a federal choose.
Benjamin Tucker Patz, identified to the sports activities betting neighborhood as “Parlay Patz,” pled responsible to a rely of transmitting threats in interstate or overseas commerce final March. Patz despatched messages on Instagram to 4 gamers on the Tampa Bay Rays following a loss to the Chicago White Sox in the summertime of 2019. He was arrested for these messages a yr later.
Court paperwork stated that Patz instructed one participant “I will enter your home while you sleep” and “I will cut up your family.”
According to a report from the Tampa Bay Times, Patz was in a federal courtroom in Tampa Thursday afternoon for his sentencing.
The costs may have landed him as much as 5 years in jail. Instead, U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday opted for 3 years of probation, in addition to six months of home arrest, a complete psychological well being therapy and random drug testing. Merryday additionally banned Patz from any type of playing, whether or not it happen on-line or at a brick-and-mortar facility.
Patz was reported to have made seven-figures betting sports activities in 2019, however his lawyer implied that Patz was merely an issue gambler and had obtained remedy for his behavior for the reason that incident. Patz started working a part-time job and commenced attending school since his arrest in 2020.
He additionally provided an apology to the gamers he threatened whereas at his sentencing. While he was solely dealing with costs for what he despatched to gamers from the Rays, it was documented that he despatched related messages to gamers on the Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres.
“I’d like to apologize to the victims,” stated Patz. “Not only the ones in the plea, but all the victims.”
U.S. Attorney Patrick Scruggs instructed Merryday that the prosecution didn’t imagine that there was any intent on the a part of Patz to comply with by means of together with his threats, which is why he didn’t advocate jail time.
