The Indiana school board member, Matt Chaffee, has found himself in the midst of a scandal involving his online gambling habits during a child custody court case. Real News Michiana (RNM) uncovered court documents from Chaffee’s custody battle for his son, which not only revealed his denial of paternity and mistreatment of his son’s mother but also shed light on his extensive gambling activities.
According to the court records, Chaffee reportedly earned around $125,000 from online gambling within a year, but failed to report his losses. This information was used to determine his child support payments, ultimately leading to the decision to award sole custody of the child to the mother due in part to Chaffee’s initial denial of paternity. Chaffee is currently appealing this decision and has also launched a campaign to remove the judge who ruled against him.
Chaffee’s gambling issues go beyond just failing to report losses. An expose by RNM in July 2024 revealed that Chaffee was involved in selling information and access to an illegal gambling operation while serving as the Manager of the Indiana University men’s basketball team for the past decade. Reports indicate that Chaffee boasted about his ability to sell this information and access to players while intoxicated at a party in Bloomington, claiming to have already done so for a shady gambling operation in exchange for money and a car. He allegedly repeated this boastful behavior on multiple occasions over the years.
However, sources also revealed that Chaffee became upset when the gambling operators failed to compensate him as promised, despite using the information and access he provided. He expressed anger over not receiving the agreed-upon money and car, feeling betrayed by the individuals behind the illegal gambling operation.
The revelations about Chaffee’s gambling habits and unethical behavior have sparked controversy and raised questions about his suitability for serving on the school board. The case has brought to light not only his personal issues but also concerns about potential legal implications of his actions. As the custody battle and legal proceedings continue, the community and school board members are left to grapple with the fallout of these shocking revelations.