Report: Kayshon Boutte charged in illegal sports gaming scheme, including bets on LSU football games

A former LSU standout could be in hot water with the law, according to a report out of Baton Rouge on Thursday afternoon. It involves receiver Kayshon Boutte.

WAFB reports that an arrest warrant has been issued for Boutte on charges related to online gaming.

Specifically, Boutte is being charged with felony computer fraud, as well as a misdemeanor count of gaming prohibited for persons under 21. WAFB reports Boutte is expected to turn himself in at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison later today.

The report from WAFB notes that a source indicated wagers and payouts involving Boutte’s account, which was created fraudulently listing the user’s age at 21 years or older, involved “several hundred thousand dollars.”

Moreover, some of the bets allegedly placed by Boutte’s account involved LSU football games.

According to reporting from Michael Cauble, Boutte bet close to 9,000 times in total. Seventeen of those bets were on NCAA football games, while at least six were on LSU football games.

LSU released a statement on the reports of Boutte’s arrest warrant on Thursday.

“In July 2023, LSU was made aware of allegations regarding a former student-athlete’s improper conduct related to sports gambling while enrolled at the University,” the statement read. “Since then, we have fully cooperated with all relevant authorities involved in the investigation and will continue to do so. We have no evidence that any other student-athletes participated in these prohibited activities, and we are grateful for measures that detect and discourage sports gambling related misconduct.”

Kayshon Boutte was a standout receiver for the Tigers from 2020-2022. He recorded 131 catches for 1,782 yards and 16 touchdowns across those three seasons.

This is not the first time Boutte has run afoul of the rules, as he was also briefly suspended at LSU for taking part in an “improper benefit” while he was a student-athlete.

Boutte participated in an autograph signing in the summer of 2021 along with former LSU teammate Maason Smith. That signing took place before the NCAA adopted interim NIL legislation, meaning it would constitute an “impermissible benefit.”

Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported the event could have taken place “days or weeks” before the signing would have been allowed under NCAA rules.

Still, it was against NCAA rules at the time and Boutte served his suspension during the 2022 season.

Boutte would go on to be drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft following his junior season with the Tigers. He was selected by the New England Patriots.

During his rookie season in the NFL, Boutte played in five games and caught two passes for 19 yards, seeing seven total targets.