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Former MLB player, wife charged in $60K youth baseball fraud

Former Jays and Rays player Richard Butler and his wife have been charged in connection with an alleged $60,000 youth baseball fraud scheme in Canada.

Butler and his wife Michelle are accused of collecting thousands of dollars from families for baseball training services that were never provided, according to multiple reports.

The families enrolled their children in the Ontario Devil Rays’ 2025-26 baseball program, Butler’s baseball training company, paying registration fees to its accounts.

Photo of Richard Butler.
This undated photo provided by Durham Regional Police shows Richard Butler, a former Major League Baseball player facing fraud charges in connection with a youth baseball training program.
Michelle Butler with blonde hair.
Michelle Butler, wife of a former Major League Baseball player facing fraud charges in connection with a youth baseball training program, is shown in an undated photo provided by Durham Regional Police.

Investigators allege that approximately $60,000 was deposited into an account associated with the organization in 2025 before being transferred to other accounts linked to the couple.

Both face charges of fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and uttering a forged document.

The organization reportedly informed families in October 2025 that it was shutting down due to financial difficulties and bankruptcy.

Investigators later determined that no bankruptcy proceedings had been initiated and that a lawyer named in the email had allegedly been identified without his knowledge or permission.

Rich Butler standing at home plate holding a bat, wearing a black jersey and helmet.
Rich Butler (10) of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays plays in a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin, Florida on March 24, 1998.

Police believe there may be additional victims.

Butler, an Ontario native, spent parts of three seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1997-99, appearing in 86 games and batting .223 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs.

His brother, Rob Butler, was a member of Toronto’s 1993 World Series championship team and played four seasons in the big leagues.

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