The state of Louisiana has dismissed underage gambling and computer fraud charges against Keyshawn Bute, the Patriots wide receiver’s attorney confirms to ESPN.
Butte, 22, was arrested in Baton Rouge in January on illegal sports betting charges while playing for LSU. He was a regular participant in spring practice earlier this year, and Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said in May that he would “wait and see what the league has to say” about Butte’s status.
An NFL spokesperson confirmed the league is monitoring the situation and is still reviewing it. The spokesperson said Boutte will be able to continue participating in all team activities.
Investigators assigned to the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division found that Boutte bet on sports from April 6, 2022, through May 7, 2023, when he turned 20. Boutte is accused of using an alias to evade age restrictions on sports betting in Louisiana.
According to police, the alias account allegedly used by Bute placed more than 8,900 bets, at least 17 of which were on NCAA football games, at least six of which involved LSU.
According to police, Boutte’s gambling continued for about a week after he was drafted. The NFL’s gambling policy allows players to bet on sports, but not on anything related to the league.
A sixth-round pick in 2023, Bute is expected to compete for a roster spot this year after the Patriots selected Washington’s Jalen Faulk in the second round and Central Florida’s Javon Baker in the fourth.
Boutte set an SEC single-game record with 308 receiving yards as a freshman against Ole Miss in December 2020 and had nine touchdown catches the following season as a sophomore, but battled injuries during a disappointing junior season with the Tigers before declaring himself for the NFL Draft.
