Ex-LSU receiver Kayshon Boutte’s gambling-related charges have been dropped – NOLA.com

Louisiana has dropped all gambling-related charges against former LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutteafter an investigation found his wagers did not cause anyone financial harm and he agreed to a "self-ban" on sports betting.

Assistant District Attorney Tracey Barbera confirmed the decision to drop Boutte's case Tuesday after ESPN first reported the news. Barbera said in a statement that while there is "undisputed evidence" Boutte made underage bets, no one suffered financial loss as a result and he did not bet 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," Barbera said. "In light of his mitigatory actions, we do not believe a felony prosecution is appropriate."

In January,Louisiana state police said in an affidavit that Boutte placed thousands of illegal sports bets while he was a player at LSU, including wagers on himself and his team. He was arrested on a felony count of computer fraud and a misdemeanor charge of gaming by an individual under the age of 21.

Boutte allegedly placed nearly 9,000 total bets for over $600,000, using someone else's name and birthday on a FanDuel account linked to his mother's credit card. In the affidavit, police said that 17 of Boutte's alleged bets were on college football games and six involved LSU.

LSU said in a statement in January that it had no evidence that any other athletes at the school had gambled illegally.

Barbera said an investigation by the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division concluded that Boutte placed the bets under the age of 21, but "he did not financially benefit from his actions as an LSU football player."

Boutte, a native of New Iberia, signed as a five-star recruit and burst onto the scene as a freshman. Against Ole Miss in 2020, he caught 14 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns, setting the Southeastern Conference single-game receiving yardage record.

Boutte then caught nine touchdowns in the first six games of his sophomore year but suffered a season-ending ankle injury in a road loss to Kentucky. He struggled to regain his pre-injury form his junior year, finishing with 48 receptions for 538 yards and two touchdowns.

The New England Patriots then selected Boutte in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Boutte has two career catches for 19 yards. According to ESPN, he participated fully in the team's spring practices.

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Ex-LSU receiver Kayshon Boutte's gambling-related charges have been dropped - NOLA.com