UPDATE: A Tennessee man named after baseball legend Babe Ruth has been charged with a massive fraud scheme that allegedly sought over $550,000 by exploiting the identities of deceased professional baseball players. George Herman Ruth, 69, from Morristown, was indicted on August 12, 2023, in the U.S. District Court in Greeneville, Tennessee, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This shocking development comes as authorities reveal Ruth is facing 91 counts including mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. Prosecutors allege he opened numerous P.O. boxes across Tennessee and filed hundreds of fraudulent claims to obtain payouts from various class action settlements.
Ruth reportedly used the names of both living and deceased players, along with the Social Security numbers of unwitting victims, to submit bogus claims related to issues such as contact lens pricing and racial discrimination lawsuits. The indictment indicates that his scheme involved names of players from defunct teams like the Philadelphia Athletics and the St. Louis Browns.
“This case highlights the serious issue of identity theft and fraud,” stated a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Previously, Ruth was convicted of Social Security fraud in Indiana and sentenced to prison. He was released on probation from October 2023 until July 2025, which raises questions about his alleged return to criminal activity.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone who may have been affected or who recognizes any fraudulent activity related to this case to come forward. The ramifications of Ruth’s actions extend beyond financial loss, affecting the integrity of class action lawsuits and the trust of the public in legal settlements.
What happens next? Ruth is expected to appear in court soon as the legal proceedings unfold. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.