Alabama Baseball Betting Scandal: Gambler Gets Eight-Month Sentence
The fallout from the Alabama baseball betting scandal continues as gambler Bert Neff receives an eight-month prison sentence. After getting insider information from Alabama coach Brad Bohannon, Neff attempted to wager $100,000 on an Alabama baseball game at the BetMGM Sportsbook at the Great America Ballpark in Cincinnati. Bohannon was ultimately fired following investigations.
Neff Sentenced After Alabama Sports Betting Scandal
Neff pleaded guilty to obstructing a federal grand jury investigation in March, facing up to 10 years in prison at the time. His eight-month prison sentencing was on Monday. He will also serve three years of supervised release. Neff must report to begin his sentence on Oct. 29, 2024.
“Faced with a federal grand jury investigation, he worked to game the system,” wrote Edward Canter, assistant U.S. attorney, in a sentencing memorandum. “The defendant destroyed evidence, tampered with witnesses, and provided false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He did not do this once. He did it on dozens of occasions, and he did so for the greater part of a year.”
According to court documents, Neff destroyed his cell phone during the investigation. Additionally, Neff participated in witness tampering by coaching witnesses before they testified.
“(Neff) demonstrated an uncommon persistence in his effort to obstruct justice,” Canter wrote. “Not only did he destroy his phone at the outset of the investigation. He doubled down on obstruction at every opportunity, compounding the seriousness of the offense.”
Fate Of Disgraced Alabama Coach
In addition to losing his coaching gig, Bohannon earned a 15-year show cause order by the NCAA. Should Bohannon gain another coaching job in the NCAA, he must serve a five-game suspension. The University of Alabama was fined $5,000 and received three years of probation from the NCAA for the baseball betting scandal.
Bohannon allegedly gave Neff a tip about an Alabama starting pitcher not playing in the Apr. 28 Alabama vs. LSU baseball game. Neff attempted to wager $100,000 on LSU, but staff limited him to $15,000. Following Neff’s attempt to place more bets on the matchup, the staff reported the suspicious activity.
While attempting to wager, Neff reportedly said to staff members, ‘If only you guys knew what I knew.’ Neff also reportedly showed messages from Bohannon to the staff regarding the situation with the starting pitcher.
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