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Threats to Tampa Bay Rays Players Land California Man in Trouble
A California man has pleaded guilty to transmitting threats in interstate or foreign commerce after sending violent messages to Tampa Bay Rays players following a loss in 2019.
Benjamin Tucker Patz, a 24-year-old from Napa, California, was arrested after sending threatening messages to four Tampa Bay Rays players and one Chicago White Sox player on Instagram in July 2019. The messages included graphic and disturbing threats of violence, which were meant to intimidate and harm the players and their families.
The messages, which were sent to one Tampa Bay Rays player, included threats to sever their neck open, enter their home while they slept, and kill their entire family. The threats were so severe that they were viewed as a true threat to injure the person of another.
According to a plea agreement, Patz sent the messages on July 20, 2019, the same day the Tampa Bay Rays lost a home game to the Chicago White Sox. The messages were a clear attempt to intimidate and retaliate against the players for their performance on the field.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is part of the Bureau’s Integrity in Sport and Gaming Initiative, which aims to tackle illegal sports gambling and combat threats from criminal enterprises. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.
Patz faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for his crimes. A sentencing date has not yet been set, but it is expected that Patz will face serious consequences for his actions.
The threats made by Patz were a clear example of the dangers of online harassment and the need for law enforcement to take action against those who use social media to intimidate and harm others. The case serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to use social media to threaten or harm others.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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