Families paid for a season of youth baseball training. Police in Ontario now allege the money went somewhere else. Former major league outfielder Rich Butler, 53, and his wife, Michelle Butler, 52, of Frankford, Ont., have each been charged in connection with about $60,000 in fees collected for a youth program, Durham Regional Police announced Tuesday.
Each faces three charges: fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and uttering a forged document, according to The Canadian Press. The allegations have not been tested in court.
What Police Allege About the Ontario Devil Rays Fees
The money was tied to the 2025-26 Ontario Devil Rays youth baseball training program. Police say family payments went into a bank account linked to the organization between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2025, and investigators allege the funds were then moved to other accounts tied to the couple instead of being spent on the program.
Families were later told by email that the business was being dissolved because of bankruptcy. Police say no bankruptcy proceedings were ever started, and that a lawyer named in that email was included without his permission. CBC News and CTV News also reported the charges. Police have said there may be more victims and asked anyone with information to come forward.
Rich Butler's Blue Jays and Rays Career
Butler, a Toronto native, played 86 big-league games for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1997 to 1999, hitting .223 with seven home runs and 22 RBI, per The Canadian Press. His brother, Rob Butler, played four seasons with Toronto and Philadelphia and was on the 1993 Blue Jays World Series team.
A Warning for Travel Baseball Families
Most youth programs collect a season's fees up front, often months before the first practice, and parents rarely see where the money goes. A few habits help: pay by credit card when you can, ask whether the organization is incorporated or registered with a governing body, and get a written refund policy before you hand over a deposit. A big-league name on the logo is not a substitute for any of those.
No court date had been reported as of Wednesday. More on the business side of youth sports is on our youth sports page.
