Danny Masterson · Tennis · FTX
Plus: A Boy Scout weekend?
the true crime that's worth your time
Did I ever tell you guys I dated an Eagle Scout? It’s true — my high school boyfriend, a lifelong Cub and then Boy Scout, completed his Eagle Scout project while we were together. As an aspirational alternative person (this was the 1980s in small-town Indiana, so you can probably picture my thirst vividly), I was vaguely smirky about his all-American affiliation; I was less equipped to manage the passing way he mentioned which Scoutmasters were the ones he’d never share a tent with and why.
It’s weird, though, that the idea of the problematic (or worse) Scoutmaster was just something that everyone seemed to just accept — even moreso, perhaps, than the problematic (or worse) priest. But while religious orgs are starting to see sunlight when it comes to molestation coverups, the Boy Scouts of America have faced less scrutiny, perhaps because of their Norman Rockwellian synonymity with Old Glory and apple pie.
As the NYT noted in 2020, more folks have filed sex abuse claims against the BSA than against the Catholic Church, which suggests that the issue might run even deeper. Over 82K, in fact, many of whom came forward as part of a bankruptcy judge’s imposed deadline for claims against the org, which filed for financial protection as — perhaps emboldened by the support victims saw in the #MeToo movement — more and more folks who’d been assaulted or abused by BSA leaders spoke up.
It’s that influx of reports that new Netflix doc Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America seeks to cover, which is why it’s my pick of the weekend — that, and that it’s a single-serving doc as opposed to a multi-ep series, which I just do not have the patience for right now. That said, its reviews so far have been mixed (the NYT says it allows “the culture of shame and stigma that muzzled these men to hover in the air, unexplored”), so I’m not as wild to dive into it as I might be.
But thinking about that guy I dated in high school, and the way he talked about Scoutmaster X and Scoutmaster Y (unnamed, as both these guys are alive and live by my mom, so besides the usual legal concerns there’s the very real community worry!), I feel obligated, so that’s my true-crime weekend, for better or worse. What’s yours? — EB
Hearsay
Danny Masterson Is Sentenced to 30 Years to Life in Prison for Two Rapes (gift link) [NY Times]
I am certain I penned something cynical here after Masterson’s abortive first trial, but I was wrong! The actor and prominent Scientologist received close to the maximum sentence in his conviction. In a courtroom presser posted to X (formerly Twitter), his attorney — who did not call a single witness during the trial — says the star will appeal; if the conviction and sentence remain intact he’ll be eligible for parole in 20 years, when he is 67 years old. — EB
A 4th FTX executive pleads guilty over crypto exchange's collapse ahead of Sam Bankman-Fried's trial [Insider]
“Former FTX executive Ryan Salame pleaded guilty to fraud and campaign finance charges Thursday,” reporter Jacob Shamsian notes. According to the Inner City Press, Salame told the judge that he “made $10 million in political contributions and called them loans, which I never intended to repay. This was supported by Sam Bankman-Fried. I knew it was prohibited." — EB
Nottingham baby deaths: police open maternity unit inquiry [The Times]
The Nottingham University Hospitals Trust has already paid out tens of millions in a maternity care scandal that allegedly left dozens of babies brain damaged — or worse — in the past ten years. Now the cops are involved, as Nottinghamshire’s chief constable says that its possible criminal negligence charges are in order. — EB
The Lies in Your Grocery Store [New Yorker]
Long Island attorney Spencer Sheehan might be perceived as an ambulance-chasing opportunist by some, with a practice that specializes in class-action suits against likely-to-settle big business. But there’s more to the story (that’s why I’m sharing it with you, of course!), as Sheehan’s object of ire are the bullshit claims made by food manufacturers. Here’s a quote from Sheehan, who has sued nut company Blue Diamond eleven times: “‘Smokehouse’ almonds.’ These almonds have never seen a smokehouse in their— and Blue Diamond never owned a smokehouse, either.” — EB
The man who built the biggest match-fixing ring in tennis (gift link)
How a small-town police officer took down the largest match-fixing ring in tennis (gift link)
Five key findings from The Post’s investigation of match-fixing in tennis
The Washington Post dropped a dazzling investigation into corruption within the International Tennis Federation today, focused specifically on a network of players who work with gambling orgs to manipulate the results of matches. This is a couple long, juicy reads, so I recommend you start with the “five key findings” item I link to last (it’s unpaywalled, BTW) before diving into the longer two-parter. Who knew tennis was so dirty?!? — EB
Next week on Best Evidence: Stealing jewels, stealing hearts!
What is this thing? This should help. Follow Best Evidence @bestevidencefyi on Instagram, email us at editorial at bestevidence dot fyi, or call or text us any time at 919-75-CRIME.