TAMPA (WDAE) -- A federal complaint charges a 23-year-old gambler with making threats over social media to a number of professional athletes and their families, including four members of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Benjamin Tucker Patz was charged by the US Attorney in the middle district of Florida with transmitting threats in interstate or foreign commerce.
In a sworn affidavit, federal investigators said Patz threatened four members of the Rays following a July 20, 2019 loss at Tropicana Field to the Chicago White Sox. The players are only mentioned in the record by their initials: E.P., A.K., C.R., and T.P. However, we know that in the 2-1 11-inning loss, Emilio Pagan allowed a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning that tied the game, Adam Kolarek took the loss in the game, Chaz Roe allowed the hit to Jose Abreu that drove in the winning run, and Tommy Pham went 0 for 5 in the game, a fact mentioned in one of the threats.
According to the affidavit, Patz is accused of using three different Instagram accounts to message 307 accounts, mostly professional and collegiate athletes and their families. Players from Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and collegiate basketball are referenced as having received threats.
Photo: stock image/freeimages.com