Two Major League Baseball players, Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz and Luis Leandro Ortiz Ribera, have been charged in a federal indictment with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy. The charges were announced at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. Ortiz was arrested in Boston and is scheduled for an initial court appearance on November 10, 2025. Clase is not currently in U.S. custody.
According to prosecutors, the two pitchers allegedly participated in a scheme to rig bets on specific pitches during MLB games. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, stated: “Professional athletes, like Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz hold a position of trust—not only with their teammates and their professional leagues, but with fans who believe in fair play. As alleged, the defendants sold that trust to gamblers by fixing pitches. In doing so, the defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services. They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed. And they betrayed America’s pastime. Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us. Today’s charges make clear that our Office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who corrupt sports through illegal means.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia commented: “Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz allegedly rigged their pitches in professional baseball games so that an inner circle, and occasionally themselves, could quietly cash out their winnings. The defendants' alleged greed not only established an unfair advantage for select bettors but also sullied the reputation of America's pastime. The FBI will ensure any individual who exploits their position as a professional athlete at the expense of others strikes out."
The indictment alleges that starting around May 2023, Clase worked with bettors to manipulate proposition bets—bets on details such as pitch speed or type—by sharing information about his intended pitches before or during games while pitching for the Cleveland Guardians. Bettors used this inside information to place fraudulent wagers worth thousands of dollars on online sportsbooks.
Clase reportedly received bribes and kickbacks from these bettors for providing non-public information about his pitching plans; he sometimes provided money upfront to help fund betting activities related to this scheme.
In June 2025, Ortiz joined what prosecutors describe as a criminal operation involving bribes for throwing particular pitches as balls rather than strikes during MLB games—in one case agreeing to throw a ball on a specified pitch for $5,000; another time agreeing to do so for $7,000 per game along with additional payments coordinated by Clase.
Through these actions—including specific incidents cited against teams such as the New York Mets—prosecutors say co-conspirator bettors won at least $400,000 from bets placed using information supplied by Clase alone; Ortiz’s involvement allegedly led to at least $60,000 more in fraudulent winnings.
Both players face multiple counts carrying maximum sentences ranging from five years (for conspiracy related to influencing sporting contests) up to twenty years each (for wire fraud-related offenses).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sean M. Sherman and Eric Silverberg from the Office’s Public Integrity Section.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
