Former professional baseball player Yuniesky Betancourt, known for his career in Major League Baseball (MLB), is now facing potential imprisonment of up to 10 years if convicted on charges including insurance fraud, staged accident, organized scheme to defraud, and grand theft. The charges stem from an arrest in Miami-Dade County last week, as announced by Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis.

According to the state's investigation, Betancourt, 42, allegedly participated in a four-person scheme that involved staging a car crash and fabricating injuries in order to defraud Kemper Insurance. The investigation revealed that all four individuals sought treatment and physical therapy for injuries that were never sustained in relation to the accident. As a result, Kemper Insurance was wrongfully billed over $61,000 by two clinics, and over $22,800 was paid out for therapy billing that none of the four individuals were entitled to.

In response to the case, Patronis emphasized the importance of cracking down on fraudulent activities in Florida. He stated, "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 also emphasized the dangers of staging accidents and the impact of such fraud on auto insurance premiums.

Yuniesky Betancourt spent the majority of his professional career with the Seattle Mariners, playing parts of nine MLB seasons. He also had stints with the Kansas City Royals and the Milwaukee Brewers. Throughout his career, Betancourt maintained a batting average of .261, an on-base percentage of .285, and a slugging percentage of .388 (80 OPS+). He accumulated 80 home runs and 30 stolen bases.

Despite his last MLB appearance in 2013, Betancourt continued playing professionally in various leagues such as Japan, Mexico, and the winter-league circuit. His most recent recorded appearances were with Aguilas de Mexicali during the 2018-19 Mexican Pacific Winter League season.

Baseball Reference's salary database estimates that Betancourt earned nearly $16 million during his playing career.

The legal proceedings surrounding Betancourt's case will be closely monitored as fans and the baseball community grapple with the fall from grace of a once-prominent MLB player.