Indiana Businessman Sentenced in Betting Scandal Involving SEC Baseball Game

Bert Neff, an Indiana businessman and professional gambler, was sentenced to eight months in prison and three years of supervised release for his involvement in a betting scandal linked to an SEC baseball game in 2023. The sentencing, announced by the United States Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Alabama, follows Neff's guilty plea to obstruction of justice charges in March. Federal authorities accused him of destroying evidence, tampering with witnesses, and providing false statements to the FBI during the investigation into suspicious betting activities surrounding an Alabama-LSU baseball game on April 28, 2023. The investigation revealed that Neff had communicated with then-Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon about a lineup change before attempting to place a bet on LSU to win the game. Bohannon was subsequently fired in early May 2023, although he was not named in the court documents. Neff allegedly shared insider information regarding an injury to Alabama's starting pitcher with associates, which contributed to the suspicious betting patterns observed during the game. According to court documents, four gamblers associated with Neff also placed bets on the game, which Alabama lost 8-6 after scratching its starting pitcher. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Canter emphasized Neff's extensive efforts to obstruct the investigation, stating that he repeatedly engaged in illegal activities over the course of a year. Neff's attorney did not respond to requests for comment following the sentencing, leaving the case's implications for college sports and gambling practices under scrutiny.