1 week ago
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Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz has pleaded not guilty to charges that he was part of a plot to rig bets during Major League Baseball games.
The 26-year-old, and fellow Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase, are accused of taking bribes from bettors to throw certain types of pitches, including tossing balls in the dirt instead of strikes.
Ortiz was arrested in Boston Sunday after he and Clase were charged on multiple counts including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and bribery.
The following day, he appeared in a federal courtroom in Boston and on Wednesday, Ortiz and his partner arrived for an arraignment in Brooklyn.
Ortiz, who wore a black shirt under a black leather jacket, refused to answer questions from reporters.
US Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell in Boston had earlier granted him his release but with several conditions, including that he surrender his passport, restrict his travel to the Northeast and post a $500,000 bail, $50,000 of it secured.
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz arrives for his arraignment in Brooklyn, New York
Ortiz is accused by the Department of Justice of rigging bets on pitches during MLB games
Police officers pave a way for the Cleveland Guardians pitcher as he makes his way into court
He also was ordered to avoid contact with anyone who could be viewed as a victim, a witness or a co-defendant in the case.
The baseball star did not say anything in court. His lawyers declined to speak to reporters after the brief hearing.
MORE TO FOLLOW
Ortiz is one of two Cleveland pitchers accused of rigging bets placed on pitches in MLB games
Ortiz made an earlier appearance at a federal court in Boston and left wearing a blue tracksuit
Fellow Guardians star Emmanuel Clase has been charged, but is not in US custody
