Cleveland Indians' Fausto Carmona Arrested, Accused of Falsifying Identity and Age

[catlover79]

http://www.fox8.com/sports/wjw-spors...,3944145.story

By Dan Jovic | dan.jovic@fox8.com

Fox8.com Reporter

4:23 p.m. EST, January 19, 2012

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC— Cleveland Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona has been arrested by police in the Dominican Republic for allegedly faking his identity.

According to a statement issued on the Twitter account of Dominican Republic police official, Col. Maximo Baez Aybar, Carmona was arrested after he left the U.S. Consulate in Santo Domingo.

According to Col. Aybar, Carmona's real name is in fact Roberto Hernández Heredia.

Col. Aybar claims that Heredia is 31-years-old, not 28, as Carmona has alleged.

Col. Aybar says that Carmona was taken into custody requesting renewal of a citizenship visa. He is currently being held on a charge of using a fake identity on official documents.

The Cleveland Indians issued the following statement regarding Carmona: "We were recently made aware of the situation that occurred today in the Dominican Republic and are currently in the process of gathering information," said Cleveland Indians GM Chris Antonetti. "We are not prepared to make any additional comment at this time."

Carmona finished last season 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA after starting 32 games for the Indians.

This off-season the Indians exercised a $7,000,000 team option on Carmona's contract. The Indians hold contract options on Carmona's contract through the 2014 season.

Copyright © 2012, WJW-TV

[Brian Damage]

Will the city of Cleveland ever catch a dang break??? Horrible news...

[catlover79]

Brian, to answer your question - NO!!! Anyway, this story is all over the news here. The Indians' brass declined to comment.

On the other hand, we might have solved one mystery. He always looks so distracted when he's on the mound...obviously he was afraid that his secret would be uncovered!!!!

[catlover79]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseb...ity/52698738/1

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) – The Cleveland Indians pitcher known as Fausto Carmona issued a tearful apology Friday as he was released following his arrest for allegedly using a false identity to play baseball in the U.S.

"I ask for the forgiveness of my fans, the government of the United States and the Cleveland Indians for this situation," he said upon leaving the court, where a judge released him on bail of about $13,000.

Police arrested him Thursday outside the U.S. consulate in his native Dominican Republic when he arrived to get his visa renewed. Spokesman Maximo Baez Aybar said the athlete's real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia and that he is 31, three years older than he had claimed.

He was the second Dominican player arrested in recent months for using a false identity.

Marlins reliever Leo Nunez was arrested last month for using a false identity, three months after the team placed him on the restricted list when it became known he was playing under an assumed name.

Nunez, whose actual name is Juan Oviedo, was quickly released and officials said he would not be prosecuted because he was cooperating with a larger investigation into the use of false documents.

Lawyers for Hernandez said the Indians pitcher would speak in more detail at a later news conference. Judge Keyla Perez ordered him not to leave the country and required him to check in with prosecutors while the case is under further investigation.

His lawyer, Joaquin Perez, said they did not know if other players were also under investigation in the case.

Carmona is due to make $7 million this year, and the Indians hold options for 2013 at $9 million and 2014 at $12 million.

"We were recently made aware of the situation that occurred today in the Dominican Republic and are currently in the process of gathering information," general manager Chris Antonetti said after the arrest.

Carmona's career in Cleveland has been one of extremes.

After going 1-10 in 2006, the right-hander with a wicked slider won 19 games in 2007, shocking the Indians, who had briefly experimented with him as a closer. Carmona followed up with a disappointing 2008 season, and in 2009 the club sent him to the lower minors to work on his mechanics.

Carmona rebounded to win 13 games in 2010 in manager Manny Acta's first season. Although he went just 7-15 last season, Carmona stayed healthy, didn't miss a start and was expected to be part of the starting rotation this season.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[catlover79]

Whoever wrote that article didn't do all his/her homework - that last paragraph was wrong. "Fausto" was injured running out a ground ball to first base in Cincinnati (interleague play in an NL park, where the pitchers bat), and landed on the DL in July 2011. He missed at least one start that I recall.

In any case, whenever this story comes to mind, this song keeps running through my head:

[MrCleveland]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Brian, to answer your question - NO!!! Anyway, this story is all over the news here. The Indians' brass declined to comment.

On the other hand, we might have solved one mystery. He always looks so distracted when he's on the mound...obviously he was afraid that his secret would be uncovered!!!!

Fully agree...Cleveland is the unluckiest city...ever! (I feel Detroit has better luck than we do)!