Louisiana has dropped all gambling-related charges against former LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte after an inquiry determined that his wagers caused no financial harm and he consented to a “self-ban” on sports betting.
Assistant District Attorney Tracey Barbera confirmed the decision to withdraw Boutte’s case on Tuesday, after ESPN first reported it. Barbera stated in a statement that, while there is “undisputed evidence” that Boutte placed underage bets, no one lost money as a result, and he did not gamble against himself or LSU’s football team.
“Kayshon Boutte has completed a gambling awareness program and executed self-ban agreements in Massachusetts as well as with FanDuel and BET99,” according to Barbera. “Given his mitigating actions, we do not believe a criminal prosecution is appropriate.”
In January, Louisiana state police alleged in an affidavit that Boutte placed hundreds of illicit sports bets while at LSU, including betting on himself and his team. He was arrested for felony computer fraud and misdemeanor gaming by a person under the age of 21.
Boutte allegedly placed almost 9,000 bets totaling over $600,000, using another person’s name and birthdate on a FanDuel account linked to his mother’s credit card. According to the affidavit, police mentioned that 17 of Boutte’s alleged bets were on college football games, with six involving LSU.
In a statement from January, LSU said it had no evidence that any other athletes at the school had engaged in illegal gambling.
Barbera stated that an investigation by the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division determined Boutte placed the bets while under 21 but did not financially benefit as an LSU football player.
Boutte, originally from New Iberia, signed as a five-star recruit and made a significant impact as a freshman. In a 2020 game against Ole Miss, he caught 14 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns, setting the Southeastern Conference single-game receiving yardage record.
He caught nine touchdowns in the first six games of his sophomore year before a season-ending ankle injury in a game against Kentucky. Boutte struggled to return to his pre-injury form in his junior year, finishing with 48 receptions for 538 yards and two touchdowns.
The New England Patriots selected Boutte in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He has two career catches for 19 yards and, according to ESPN, fully participated in the team’s spring practices.
