Missouri Attorney General Investigates Allegations Against Matt Miller
Missouri Attorney General Investigates Allegations Against Matt Miller
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation into allegations of potential financial fraud involving Matt Miller, an analyst for ESPN. This inquiry follows a car crash in June that left Miller with significant injuries, including the amputation of his left arm. Complaints against Miller have emerged from individuals who participated in fantasy football leagues and other charitable initiatives he organized.
According to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, 26 complaints have been received. These complaints allege that consumers paid for camps and participated in fantasy football leagues where either no product or minimal product was delivered. Catherine Hanaway, the Missouri Attorney General, stated that the office received complaints from Missourians who believe they were victims. She indicated that the investigation is expected to be lengthy due to the number of transactions involved.
Miller, who has been with ESPN since 2021 and is known for his NFL Draft coverage, previously cultivated an image associated with charitable endeavors. These included coat drives, scholarships for students of color, and supplies for teachers. However, in recent months, social media posts began to accuse him of not paying winners of fantasy football leagues he managed, which he had promoted as benefiting charities. Commenters also questioned the legitimacy of his routine charity fundraisers.
Allegations of Unpaid Winnings and Unfulfilled Charitable Pledges
Messages from Sleeper, a fantasy sports platform, indicate that Miller was banned on May 7 for allegedly “stealing buy-ins from managers and not paying out league winners.” Several individuals reported that Miller failed to deliver on promises dating back to 2017. Some league members stated they received owed money only after directly pressuring him, which included threats of public exposure or reporting him to his employer. In some instances, only partial winnings were reportedly received.
One member of a league organized by Miller, who filed a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, claimed that Miller has provided no proof that money collected from the leagues went to charity. Miller declined to provide documentation of donations or comment on whether all the money designated for charity reached its intended recipients.
Miller hosted fantasy football leagues on Sleeper. Based on standard entry fees and league sizes, these leagues could have generated a substantial amount in entry fees. Miller, in an email, stated that a reported figure for entry fees did “not seem accurate,” but he could not verify it due to not having access to his Sleeper account. He also mentioned that his legal counsel advised him to limit his responses due to the active investigation, but encouraged anyone with a legitimate claim to winnings to contact him immediately.
Complaints about Miller eventually reached ESPN directly. As public criticism intensified in May and June, Miller reportedly began repaying individuals. ESPN has stated that Miller is on a mutually agreed-upon leave and is aware of the allegations and the investigation. The company plans to address these matters with Miller at an appropriate time.
Car Crash and GoFundMe Campaign
On June 17, Miller was involved in a serious car accident on Missouri Route 96. His Ford Bronco reportedly crossed the double yellow dividing line and collided with a semi-truck. The impact ejected Miller from his vehicle, and he was airlifted to a hospital. He later posted on social media that he underwent life-saving operations, including the amputation of his left arm.
Following the accident, a GoFundMe page was created to raise money for Miller’s recovery. The campaign exceeded $51,000 from hundreds of donations before his family paused it on July 3. Miller indicated that the funds would assist with a prosthetic and provide financial relief to his parents and girlfriend during his recovery. The Missouri Attorney General’s Office has clarified that the GoFundMe campaign is not part of their investigation, acknowledging the legitimacy of his accident.
Miller has been a contributor to ESPN since 2021. He has used social media to promote charitable campaigns, including online scouting classes, golf tournaments, auctions for coats for children, and raffles for merchandise. Payments for these initiatives were often directed to personal accounts or accounts named for his charities, such as the 417 Foundation and the 15 Percent Foundation.
The 417 Foundation, which Miller stated he created to provide clothes and food to children in Southwest Missouri, and the 15 Percent Foundation, created by Miller’s mother to address food insecurity in Liberal, Mo., were prominently mentioned in reports. In 2020, Miller sought donations for the 417 Foundation for scholarships. A professor at Missouri State University who showed interest in the scholarship program in 2020 was not certain if any of her students applied, and no online records of students receiving such scholarships could be found.
In his email, Miller stated that his direct messages on all social media platforms remain open for winners to contact him, and that he has been working to ensure that everyone who finished in first, second, or third place will be paid out.
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Source: nytimes.com
