What to know
- Former Toronto Blue Jays player Richard Butler and his wife, Michelle Butler, face charges following an investigation into the Ontario Devil Rays youth baseball training program.
- Police allege approximately $60,000 collected from families between April and October 2025 was transferred to accounts associated with the suspects instead of being used to deliver the program’s services.
- Investigators say families were told the business would dissolve due to financial hardship and bankruptcy, but no bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings were initiated.
- Police believe there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
A former Toronto Blue Jays player and his wife are facing charges after police allege Ontario families paid for a youth baseball training program that never delivered on its promises.
Following an investigation centring on the Ontario Devil Rays baseball training program, where families paid fees to register their children for the 2025-2026 season, Richard Butler, 53, and Michelle Butler, 52, of Frankford, Ont., have each been charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and uttering a forged document.
Police allege approximately $60,000 was deposited into a bank account associated with Ontario Devil Rays Inc. between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2025. Investigators allege the money was later transferred to accounts associated with the suspects rather than being used for the program, and that families did not receive the services they had signed up for.
Concerns started to grow after families received an email on Oct. 19, 2025, stating the business would be dissolved due to financial hardship and claiming bankruptcy. According to investigators, the email used a lawyer’s name without his knowledge or permission. Police say no bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings were ever initiated.
Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information, including families who may have experienced similar circumstances, to come forward.
Butler played for the Blue Jays in 1997, taking to the field seven times to represent Toronto before he was drafted to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during an expansion draft that same year. His brother, Rob Butler, played for the Toronto team during its legendary 1993 World Series win.
Online, netizens have shared their thoughts and concerns on the news, with many troubled by the fact that children are negatively impacted.
“The Butler (allegedly) did it,” one X user joked.
“That $60K was money parents scraped together for cleats, travel and tournament fees. You got to play the game for a living and then took from kids who just want to play it,” another X user commented. “Hope every dime goes back to those families.”
“Ontario sports is honestly a cesspool for this type of s**t. The [Greater Toronto Hockey League] for minor hockey is practically just a money laundering front,” one Redditor shared. “Anyone who tries to do stuff like this is incredibly messed up.”
While some Toronto locals are sharing how shocking this is for them.
“Just putting in my own experience training with him and his brother Rob, both were super nice and great for my baseball development. Such a shame he had to resort to fraud when he used to be a great coach,” a Reddit user shared.
“Gotta say, pretty surreal experience seeing the mugshots of the guy who’s baseball camps I used to go to as a kid on my timeline,” another person shared on X.
Anyone with information can contact the Durham Regional Police Financial Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5241. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
