Ex-MLB SS Yuniesky Betancourt Charged With Fraud; Allegedly Staged Car Crash

Former Major League Baseball player Yuniesky Betancourt could face up to 10 years in prison after he was arrested in Florida and charged with insurance fraud.

Florida chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis explained the situation in a Monday news release and said Betancourt was one of four people who staged a 2022 car crash in Miami in an effort to collect the payout.

According to the state's investigation, the accident did not happen as reported to the police and Kemper Insurance. What's more, the four people involved sought treatment and physical therapy for injuries they allegedly didn't actually suffer, and Kemper Insurance ended up paying out more than $22,800 for therapy billing.

The four people involved, including Betancourt, were arrested on Friday and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Center in Miami. They face up to 10 years in prison if convicted on all the charges of staged accident, insurance fraud, organized scheme to defraud and grand theft.

"It doesn't matter how clever you think your scheme may be, if you commit fraud in Florida, you will be caught and brought to justice," Patronis said. "Staging accidents is incredibly dangerous and fraud like this costs every Floridian in the form of higher auto insurance premiums. We must continue to work together to do everything we can to uncover these fraud schemes and bring these scam artists to justice."

Betancourt played nine seasons in MLB for the Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers from 2005 through 2013. He also played in Japan and Mexico following his MLB career.

Liz Roscher of Yahoo Sports noted he defected from Cuba in 2003 but eventually became the first player to return to the Cuban national team and play after previously defecting.