Seventh-Inning Stretch · Off the Bench
Bonus Money Kickbacks
United States v. David S. Wilder (2013)
Charge: Mail fraud - front-office executive taking kickbacks from prospects' signing bonusesCourt: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of IllinoisDocket: Off the Bench
Did taking a hidden cut of inflated signing bonuses defraud the club?
The facts
A senior player-personnel executive for a big-league club oversaw the signing of Latin American prospects. Between 2004 and 2008, scouts arranged for some prospects' signing bonuses to be inflated, with part of the extra money flowing back to the executive. Investigators counted at least 23 prospects and about $440,000 in kickbacks.
You have the facts the court had. Guilty or not guilty? Call it in the game with your friends, then see what the court actually decided. Wrong call, you drink.
Citation: United States v. David S. Wilder, U.S. District Court, N.D. Ill.; guilty plea 2011; sentenced 2013
Read more at archives.fbi.gov. The source reveals the outcome.