A sports bettor who sent death threats to professional athletes has been given three years probation by a federal judge.

Benjamin Tucker Patz, known in the betting community as "Parlay Patz," pleaded guilty to sending threats in interstate or foreign commerce last March. Patz sent Instagram messages to four Tampa Bay Rays players after losing to the Chicago White Sox in the summer of 2019. He was arrested for these messages a year later.

Court documents say Patz told one player "I'll come to your house while you're sleeping" and "I'll cut your family apart."

According to the report of Tampa Bay Times, Patz was in federal court in Tampa Thursday afternoon for his sentencing.

The charges could have led him to five years in prison. Instead, U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday opted for three years of probation, as well as six months of house arrest, comprehensive mental health treatment, and random drug testing. Merryday has also prohibited Patz from gambling in any form, whether online or at a brick-and-mortar facility.

Patz was reported to have placed seven-figure sports bets in 2019, but his lawyer suggested that Patz was simply a compulsive gambler and had received treatment for his addiction since the incident. Patz began working part-time and began attending college since his arrest in 2020.

He also offered an apology to the players he threatened during his sentencing. While he was only charged with what he sent to Rays players, he was documented to send similar messages to players at the Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays, and San Diego Padres .

"I would like to apologize to the victims," said Patz. "Not only those accused, but all victims."

U.S. Attorney Patrick Scruggs told Merryday that the prosecution did not believe Patz intended to follow through on his threats, so he did not recommend serving time.