In a shocking turn of events, Jeffrey Allen Venditte, a former Baltimore Orioles pitcher, was taken into custody by federal authorities on April 26, 2018, in connection with a violent crime in Maryland. The defendant, a 33-year-old native of California, was charged with one count of assault by a federal agent, according to court records obtained by The Daily Crime Report.
Details surrounding the incident are sparse, but sources familiar with the investigation indicate that Venditte was involved in a physical altercation with a witness who had been cooperating with authorities in an unrelated case. The altercation allegedly took place in the parking lot of a suburban strip mall on April 25, 2018.
According to eyewitnesses, Venditte, who had a reputation for being volatile, became agitated after being approached by the witness, who had been providing information to federal agents. The witness reportedly suffered minor injuries in the ensuing scuffle.
Prosecutors allege that Venditte, who had previously played minor league baseball for several teams, used his physical stature to intimidate the witness, which led to the assault charge.
Venditte’s defense team has not commented on the allegations, but sources close to the case indicate that the defendant is cooperating with investigators and is expected to plead guilty to the charge. If convicted, Venditte faces up to 20 years in prison.
As of March 2019, Venditte had entered a plea of guilty, and was awaiting sentencing. On October 25, 2019, Venditte was sentenced to 24 months of probation, and 100 hours of community service.
Key Facts
- Case: Venditte
- Court: MDD Federal District
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Federal Court Records
