In a bombshell discovery, REAL News Michiana (RNM) investigated court documents from Penn Harris Madison?School Board Member Matt Chaffee’s custody battle for his young son. Though at first glance the documents focused on Chaffee’s denial of being his father’s son and ostracizing his son’s mother, they also detailed Chaffee’s ongoing gambling habits–and potentially illegal behavior.

According to the records supporting Chaffee’s child support payments, he made around $125,000 through online gambling in approximately one year. Because his losses were not reported, Chaffee’s gambling earnings can be calculated into his child support payments.

In part due to Chaffee initially denying being the father of the son, the court ultimately ruled to award custody of the child solely to the Mother. Chaffee is both appealing the decision and supporting a campaign to get rid of the judge who ruled against him.

Chaffee’s gambling problems extend well beyond failing to report his losses. In July 2024, RNM published an expose detailing how Chaffee was selling information and access to an illegal gambling operation. He did so while acting as the Manager of the Indiana University men’s basketball team over the course of the last decade.

Chaffee bragged about his ability to sell information and access to players

Multiple sources reported that while drunk at a party in Bloomington, Chaffee bragged about his ability to sell information and access to players. His chief point of pride? That he had already done so to a nefarious gambling operation. In return for his services, he was to be compensated with money and a car. Sources indicate that Chaffee bragged about the incident on multiple occasions over several years.

Unfortunately, sources also report that Chaffee became distraught when the people behind the gambling operation took the information and access without giving him the promised compensation of money and a car. Chaffee became angry, saying he had held up his end of the deal.