Federal authorities accuse ex-sponsored disc golfer in extortion case

Federal authorities have turned a disc golf sponsorship breakup into a cyberstalking and extortion case. An Olympia, Washington man was accused in federal court of targeting MVP Disc Sports, the Michigan manufacturer that has become one of the sport’s most visible brands.

The allegations land hard because MVP is not a side player in disc golf. The company says it was founded in 2010 in Marlette, Michigan, by two brothers who had worked for years in their father’s plastic injection molding shop. It built its identity around patented GYRO overmold technology and a mission of growing disc golf with premium discs, giving it both manufacturing weight and brand influence across the pro scene.

The dispute also carries a clear timeline. A local report said MVP sponsored the player from 2021 until he resigned in 2024, placing the alleged conduct in the shadow of a prior business relationship rather than a random online clash. That detail matters in a sport where manufacturers, touring professionals, tournament staff and fans often interact closely through social media, direct sales and sponsor promotions.

MVP’s footprint helps explain why the case has drawn attention beyond the criminal allegations. The Professional Disc Golf Association lists MVP Disc Sports and related brands as active manufacturers in Marlette. Ultiworld Disc Golf reported that Simon Lizotte signed a 10-year deal with MVP in January 2023, and Eagle McMahon signed a five-year contract in January 2024, two moves that underscored how central the company has become to the professional market.

The broader business stakes are obvious. In disc golf, manufacturers do not just sell plastic; they help underwrite tournament travel, signature disc releases and public-facing athlete branding. When federal court documents describe threatening communications and a pattern of harassment aimed at company officials, the fallout can reach far beyond one sponsorship file and into the trust that keeps a small-business ecosystem working.

The Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section says it works to deter and disrupt computer and intellectual property crime, a reminder that online threats can quickly cross from a private dispute into federal enforcement territory. PACER says federal court records are searchable through its Case Locator and are updated daily, leaving the next filings likely to determine how wide this case reaches and how much damage it has already done to one of disc golf’s most important brands.