Indiana Businessman Pleads Guilty in College Baseball Betting Scheme
February 1, 2024, 11:02 AM ET
By David Purdum
In a significant development within the gambling community, Bert Eugene Neff, a businessman and youth baseball coach from Marion County, Indiana, has pleaded guilty to federal charges linked to a betting scandal involving a college baseball game. According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Neff was charged with obstructing a federal investigation, which included destroying evidence and providing misleading statements to federal agents.
The investigation centers on suspicious betting activities surrounding a match between Alabama and LSU on April 28, 2023. Federal authorities revealed that Neff attempted to place bets on LSU’s victory following communications with Alabama’s then-baseball coach, Brad Bohannon, prior to the game. Allegedly, Neff shared insider information related to a pitcher’s injury and resulting lineup changes with other gamblers.
LSU ultimately triumphed over Alabama with a score of 8-6, and shortly thereafter, Bohannon was dismissed from his position. Neff’s actions are reported to have included encouraging fellow gamblers to delete their messaging app used for communications about the bets, a move he allegedly made on multiple occasions.
Neff faces a potential maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Additionally, he has been banned from gaming establishments in both Indiana and Ohio due to his involvement in the betting scheme and has expressed intention to appeal the ban in Ohio.
This incident has raised concerns about the integrity of college sports betting, a growing industry in the U.S. Bohannon has remained silent regarding the scandal since his firing.
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