MIAMI – A former Major League Baseball shortstop was among four people state officials called “scam artists” after they were arrested on insurance fraud charges in Miami-Dade County.
Yuniesky Betancourt, 42, born in Cuba, spent nine seasons at baseball’s highest level, playing shortstop for the Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers. He last played in the majors in 2013 and finished his pro career in Japan in 2014.
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Records show he appeared in Miami-Dade court on Friday.
According to Baseball Reference, he made more than $15.7 million over his career in the majors. The scam he’s accused of participating in paid out $61,000, authorities said.
He’s accused, along with four others, of staging a car crash to collect on insurance premiums, a frequent South Florida scam.
Betancourt and the other suspects, Maura Perez, Nancy Mercedes Pena and Abel Vera, are accused of defrauding Kemper, a Chicago-based insurance provider.
Investigators with the Florida Department Of Financial Services were behind the arrests.
The four were facing felony charges of filing false insurance claims, organized scheme to defraud, staging an accident and third-degree grand theft.
According to court records, Betancourt is being represented by the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office.
He left jail on a $4,500 bond Saturday, those records show.