Former Blue Jays player Rich Butler collects $60,000 for youth training. Then police claim he used a stolen lawyer’s identity to stage bankruptcy

Former Major League Baseball player Rich Butler and his wife, Michelle, are now facing serious fraud charges following an investigation by Durham Regional Police. Authorities claim the couple collected nearly $60,000 from families for youth baseball training services that never actually happened.

As per CityNews, the scheme allegedly centered on the Ontario Devil Rays, a baseball club based in Bowmanville for players aged 10 to 18. Families signed their children up for the program and sent registration fees to bank accounts connected to the club. Police report that this money was moved into other accounts linked to Rich and Michelle Butler instead of going toward the training services promised to the parents.

The situation took a strange turn on October 19, 2025, when families received a message claiming to be from a lawyer. This message stated that the Ontario Devil Rays company was closing down because of financial problems and bankruptcy. Investigators later discovered that the lawyer had no idea his name was being used. The lawyer did not give permission for his identity to be part of the message, and police confirmed that no bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings were ever started.

The Butler couple now faces massive fraud charges

Between April 1 and October 31 of last year, about $60,000 in registration fees moved through the initial bank account before being transferred to other accounts associated with the couple. As a result of these findings, both Rich and Michelle Butler face charges including fraud exceeding $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and uttering a forged document.

Rich Butler has a significant history in professional baseball. He attended East York High School in Toronto and played for the Blue Jays in 1997. He also spent time with the Tampa Bay Rays during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Over those three Major League seasons, he played in 86 games, batted .223, and recorded 7 home runs and 22 RBI. After his time in the majors, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, a minor league team, in 2001 and 2002.

Since 2023, his brother, Rob, has reportedly served as the manager for that same Toronto Maple Leafs organization. Rob Butler also has a notable baseball career, having played for the Blue Jays in 1993, 1994, and 1999, plus one season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1997.

Families often trust these programs to provide a safe and productive environment for their kids. The allegation that a fake legal notice was used to cover up the missing funds makes this even more serious. The fact that someone would go as far as stealing a lawyer’s identity to cover up their tracks makes this situation even more concerning. We will have to see how the court handles these charges as the case moves forward.

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