Durham Regional Police say Richard and Michelle Butler took funds from parents for a youth baseball training program that never materialized
A former Toronto Blue Jays player and his spouse have been charged in connection with a fraud investigation involving a youth baseball training program.
In 2025, families registered and paid fees for the 2025-2026 Ontario Devil Rays baseball training program, according to a news release from Durham Regional Police.
Payments were made to accounts associated with Ontario Devil Rays Inc., by parents who enrolled their children into the program.
Investigators determined that between April 1, 2025 and October 31, 2025, approximately $60,000 was deposited into a bank account associated with the program.
Funds from this account were subsequently transferred to other accounts associated with the suspects.
“Investigators allege the funds were not used for the training program and the services initially agreed upon were not provided by the Ontario Devil Rays organization,” notes the media release.
On Oct. 19, 2025, families were advised by email that the business was being dissolved due to financial hardship and claiming bankruptcy.
Investigators later determined the lawyer’s name on the email had allegedly been used without his knowledge or permission, and no bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings were initiated.
Police have concerns there may be further victims.
Richard Butler, 53, of Frankford, and Michelle Butler, 52, also of Frankford were each charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and uttering a forged document.
Anyone with information about this incident or who believes they may have been a victim in a similar circumstance is asked to contact D/Cst. Peden of the financial crimes unit at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5241.
Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.
Undrafted, Butler was signed as a free agent by the Toronto Blue Jays on Sept. 24, 1990. After seven years in the minors, he was called up to play for the major league club on Sept. 6, 1997. He played seven games in the outfield that season with the Blue Jays.
Butler was then selected 10th overall by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 1997 expansion draft. He played 72 games in Tampa’s inaugural season of 1998.
The next season was spent with the Devil Rays’ AAA team in Durham N.C., but did get called up to play seven games in Tampa Bay that season.
In 1999, after becoming a free agent, he was signed by the Seattle Mariners but never made it back to the big leagues. He played for the minor league Toronto Maple Leafs from 2001 to 2002.
His brother, Rob Butler, also played for the Jays.