Patriots’ Kayshon Boot arrested for illegal gambling at LSU

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boot was arrested Thursday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on suspicion of illegal sports betting while at LSU.

Louisiana State Police said the charges against Boutte, 21, include a felony count of computer fraud and a misdemeanor count of gambling, which is prohibited for persons under 21 years of age. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible, police said.

Investigators assigned to the Louisiana State Police Gambling Enforcement Unit discovered that Boutte bet on sports from April 6, 2022, when he was 20 years old, to May 7, 2023. Boutte allegedly used a false name to circumvent the age limit for sports betting in Louisiana. .

More than 8,900 bets were placed on the fake account believed to be used by Butte, including at least 17 on NCAA football games, including at least six on LSU football, police said. It is said to have been included.

“In July 2023, LSU became aware of allegations of inappropriate conduct related to sports betting by a former student-athlete while attending the university,” LSU said in a statement Thursday. “Since then, we have fully cooperated with all relevant authorities involved in the investigation and will continue to do so. There is no evidence that any other student-athletes participated in these prohibited activities. We appreciate the measures taken to detect and prevent sports-related illegal activities.

The NFL declined to comment on Boutte’s arrest.

Boot played in just five games as a rookie with the Patriots this season, making two catches for 19 yards.

“The New England Patriots are aware that Kayshon Boot is cooperating with the Louisiana State Police regarding their investigation of underage gambling while attending Louisiana State University,” a Patriots spokesperson told ESPN in a statement. He added that the team had not expected it. Additional comments on this matter.

Boot set an SEC single-game record with 308 receiving yards as a freshman against Ole Miss in December 2020 and had nine touchdown catches as a sophomore the following season. But he was plagued by injuries during a disappointing junior season with the Tigers before being selected by the Patriots in the sixth round of last year’s draft.

ESPN’s Mike Reiss and Mark Schlabach contributed to this report.