Former MLB star Richard Butler and his wife Michelle have been charged over an alleged youth baseball fraud worth $60,000.
The Canadian played for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays during a brief career in the major leagues in the late 1990s.
Now, though, he is accused of amassing thousands of dollars for a youth baseball training program that never materialized.
According to police, families paid fees – totaling around $60,000 – to enroll their kids the 2025-2026 Ontario Devil Rays baseball training program.
But the authorities claim that funds paid to a bank account linked to the organization ‘were subsequently transferred to other accounts associated with the suspects.’
Then, in October 2025, families learned via email ‘that the business was being dissolved due to financial hardship and claiming bankruptcy,’ police say.
Ex-MLB star Richard Butler and his wife Michelle have been charged over an alleged fraud
The Canadian played for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 1990s
Now he is charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and uttering a forged document
But the alleged scheme began to unravel when investigations determined that ‘no bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings were initiated.’
The lawyer named in the email, meanwhile, was allegedly listed ‘without his permission or knowledge.’
Durham Regional Police said it fears there may be more victims in the case.
Both Richard Butler, 53, and Michelle Butler, 52, face three charges: fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and uttering a forged document.
Butler’s brother, Rob, was part of the Blue Jays team that won the 1993 World Series.
