‘Your family will be beheaded.’ Sports gambler threatened numerous pro athletes, cops say
A sports gambler who had accumulated more than $1 million in winnings is accused of threatening to murder athletes and their families.
Ben “Parlay” Patz, 23, faces a federal charge of transmitting threats in interstate or foreign commerce, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced Wednesday. The federal charge was filed in Florida due to some of the threats directed at Tampa Bay Rays players.
The criminal complaint alleges Patz used anonymous accounts on Instagram to message athletes about beheading their families, killing them and other gruesome acts. His violent, verbal tirades usually began after the team on which he bet on lost.
According to the complaint, Patz messaged a New England Patriots player, identified as J.E., “I’ll rape and murder your entire family” after their Super Bowl 53 win over the Los Angeles Rams. A scan of the Patriots’ roster reveals that he likely threatened Julian Edelman.
Patz messaged a college basketball player at Pepperdine, identified as C.R., on March 9, the same day one Colby Ross scored a game-high 26 points in a victory over San Francisco University.
“Your throat will be severed open with a dull knife.“
“Your entire family will be beheaded and burned alive.”
“I will enter your home as you sleep and kill you.”
Following Germany’s loss to Sweden in the Women’s World Cup Quarterfinal on June 29, a Swedish player, identified as H.L. (possibly goalie Hedvig Lindhal), received a message that read “I’m going to rape and dismember you,” the complaint alleges.
A Toronto Blue Jays player, identified as F.G., received two messages on July 4, one of which called him a racial slur while the other read “I will gas your daughters and then sever their throats open with a dull knife,” according to the complaint. That same day Freddy Galvis went 1-4 in a loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
On July 20, Patz messaged a Rays player “Your family will be beheaded,” the complaint says. He also threatened an Atlanta Braves player’s girlfriend on Instagram, saying that he planned to “enter your home while you sleep and end both of you.” Both the Rays and Braves lost that day.
Patz sent hundreds of messages to accounts belonging to both professional and collegiate athletes, their family members or significant others, according to the complaint.
The 23-year-old could spend a maximum of five years in behind bars if convicted.
Patz turned himself in Thursday morning, a U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson told The Action Network. Court records show he posted his $100,000 bond on Friday. As part of his conditional release, he must turn over his passport, refrain from gambling and not use social media.
“The safety of our players and staff is paramount and all threats are taken seriously,” Rays spokesman Dave Hallery told ESPN in a statement. “The Rays and the players involved are cooperating with the FBI as the legal process continues.’‘
A rising star in the gambling world, Patz fame grew during the 2019 football season as he garnered more than $1.1 million in winnings from parlays in under two months, according to The Action Network.
This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 2:02 PM with the headline "‘Your family will be beheaded.’ Sports gambler threatened numerous pro athletes, cops say."
