New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte is no longer an accused sports betting criminal.
As reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss, prosecutors in Louisiana have dropped computer fraud and prohibited gaming charges filed against Boutte in January. A defendant convicted on the computer fraud charge could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Boutte, a former LSU star, allegedly engaged in an activity as a 20-year-old that would have been lawful in some states, such as two with many Patriots fans—New Hampshire and Rhode Island—but not in Louisiana, where the minimum age to bet is 21. Boutte was also accused of using an alias to falsely give the impression he had satisfied the age requirement.
Boutte, now 22 years old, was depicted as placing more than 8,900 bets, including prop bets on his own performance as well as bets on LSU games. He did so without apparent success, however, as one estimate indicated he lost roughly $81,000 across 2022 and 2023.
If Boutte placed those bets (regardless of a state’s age requirement), he would have run afoul of NCAA rules, which prohibit athletes and employees from betting “on any sport sponsored by the NCAA at any level, including college and/or professional.” Sharing of information that could influence a bet also violates NCAA rules. Boutte, who caught 132 passes for the Tigers from 2020 to 2022 and was a Patriots sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, could have been deemed NCAA ineligible had the alleged activity been detected at the time.
NFL rules prohibit players from betting on NFL games and activities and prohibit them from betting on other sports while they are located on team grounds or on team-related travel. If Boutte’s alleged betting occurred before he joined the NFL, he would not face league discipline. If he bet after joining the NFL, he could face discipline depending on what sports he bet on and where he made those bets. ESPN reports his alleged betting occurred for about a week after he was drafted. To date the NFL has not punished Boutte.
Boutte only caught two passes last season for the Patriots, who finished a dismal 4-13, but has reportedly impressed in some offseason practices. Boutte will catch passes from new QBs in 2024 as the Patriots traded former starter Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, signed veteran Jacoby Brissett, drafted former UNC star Drake Maye with the third overall pick and picked up former Tennessee star Joe Milton III in the sixth round.