Brian Hamacher

Ex-Assistant for MLB Pitcher Bronson Arroyo Accused of Selling His Yacht

A former assistant for Major League Baseball star Bronson Arroyo was arrested after selling the pitcher's yacht without his permission, authorities said Tuesday.

Anthony Acosta, 38, is facing grand theft and forgery and was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on $50,000 bond, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was unknown if he's hired an attorney.

Acosta, who was Arroyo's personal assistant but was fired in 2012, is accused of selling the $167,000 yacht for $22,000 in 2013, according to the FDLE.

Investigators said Acosta told Arroyo that the yacht, which was being stored in Tampa, had sunk. Acosta then purposely reported higher repair costs on the boat to Arroyo to get more money, while moving the boat to a storage facility in Opa-locka and later selling it, authorities said.

Once the new owners of the boat realized there was a lien on it, they contacted Acosta to get their money back but Acosta refused, authorities said. The new owners contacted Arroyo, who discovered Acosta forged his signature on the bill of sale while selling the boat without his permission, authorities said.

The case is being prosecuted by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.

Arroyo, who was born in Key West, has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks. He is currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers but is on the disabled list for the rest of the year.

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