David Purdum, ESPN
An Indiana businessman and youth baseball coach has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to an investigation into a betting scheme on a college baseball game last spring, according to documents filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
Bert Eugene Neff of Marion County, Indiana, was charged with obstructing a federal investigation, including destroying evidence, tampering with witnesses and providing false statements to the FBI, according to the documents. Neff faces a maximum sentence of not more than 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
The investigation stems from suspicious betting activity on an Alabama-LSU game on April 28, 2023, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that ultimately led to the firing of Crimson Tide baseball coach Brad Bohannon. Multiple sources familiar with what transpired told ESPN that Neff attempted to bet on LSU to win the game after communicating with Bohannon.
Federal authorities say Neff shared messages from an associate identified in the documents as “Individual 1” regarding an injury to a pitcher, resulting in a lineup change. Neff, according to the documents, shared a screenshot of the messages with multiple associates. Four gamblers wagered on the game, in addition to Neff, according to the documents.
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