Oct 23, 2026
A former Toronto Blue Jays player hoped to use his big-league experience to train the next generation of aspiring major leaguers. Instead, he and his wife now face criminal charges.
Durham Regional Police have charged Richard Butler, 53, and his wife, Michelle, 52, alleging about $60,000 that families paid to enrol their children in the Ontario Devil Rays’ 2025-26 baseball training program was funnelled into personal accounts instead of paying for the promised services.
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The couple from Frankford, Ontario each face one count of fraud over $5,000, one count of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and one count of uttering a forged document.
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Police allege money was diverted from baseball program
According to police, approximately $60,000 was deposited into a bank account associated with the Ontario Devil Rays between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2025.
Families were subsequently told by email that the business was being dissolved because of financial hardship and was declaring bankruptcy.
The email included a lawyer’s name, which investigators allege was used without his knowledge or permission. Police said no bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings had been started.
Police said they are concerned there may be additional victims.
Who is Richard Butler?
Richard Butler played professional baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, now known as the Tampa Bay Rays, between 1997 and 1999.
His brother, Rob Butler, also played for Toronto and was part of the Blue Jays team that won the 1993 World Series.
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What parents should check before paying for youth sports
Parents should ask detailed questions about how their money will be managed, said Julie Matthews, a fraud prevention educator.
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“When someone promises elite coaching, exposure to scouts or opportunities that could advance any child’s athletic career, it’s easy for parents to get caught up in the excitement,” Matthews told Money.ca. “But are concrete details provided about exactly how those opportunities will occur?”
She recommends getting a written contract that spells out what families will receive, including training hours, games, cancellation terms and refunds.
“Just because someone has a recognizable name or an impressive background in professional sports doesn’t mean you should not ask the tough questions,” she said.
Parents should also ask who controls the program’s accounts and spending, whether financial checks and balances exist, and whether organizers have potential conflicts of interest.
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“I’d really emphasize that a program can have excellent coaches and a great reputation, but that doesn’t necessarily mean proper financial safeguards are in place,” she said.
What parents should do if they suspect fraud
Parents who believe they have been defrauded should contact their bank or credit card company immediately and ask whether a payment dispute is possible, Matthews said.
“Keep absolutely everything. Contracts, receipts, e-transfers, emails, text messages, screenshots of advertisements and any promises that were made,” she said. “Even communications that seem insignificant could become important.”
Matthews also recommends writing down a timeline of events and conversations while the details are fresh, and reporting suspected fraud to local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
The investigation is ongoing, and Durham police are asking anyone with information, or who believes they may have been affected, to contact the Financial Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520, extension 5241.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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Steven Brennan is a freelance finance writer based in Vancouver, BC. He holds a BA and an MA from Maynooth University, Ireland. His work regularly appears at Canadian Mortgage Trends, Lowest Rates, Loans Canada and other Canadian and U.S. brands.
