LOS ANGELES (AP) — A jury has found former major league outfielder Yasiel Puig guilty of obstruction of justice and lying to federal officials investigating an illegal gambling operation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday. The verdict came after a multiweek trial that featured testimony from Major League Baseball officials and Donny Kadokawa, a Hawaii baseball coach that Puig placed bets through. Puig now faces up to 20 years in federal prison and is scheduled to be sentenced May 26.
Puig, 35, initially pled guilty to a felony charge of lying to federal agents investigating the illegal gambling operation. He acknowledged in an August 2022 plea agreement that he racked up more than $280,000 in losses over a few months in 2019 while wagering on tennis, football, and basketball games through a third party working for Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player who operated the gambling ring.
Nix pled guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and subscribing to a false tax return and is still awaiting sentencing. Authorities stated that Puig placed at least 900 bets through Nix-controlled websites, leading to his eventual confrontation with federal investigators regarding his betting habits.
During a January 2022 interview with federal authorities, Puig denied knowledge over his betting activities, including the nature and circumstances behind his gambling debts. However, months later, he switched his plea to not guilty, claiming significant new evidence had emerged, as articulated by his attorneys. I want to clear my name, Puig declared in a statement. I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit.
The government argued that he intentionally misled investigators, presenting audio clips and expert testimony regarding his cognitive abilities. Puig's defense suggested that his limited education and language barrier during the interrogation affected his ability to respond accurately.
Throughout his MLB career, Puig batted .277, racking up 132 home runs and 415 RBIs across seven seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he earned an All-Star selection in 2014. His journey from Cuba to MLB was marked by both talent and controversy, leading to his recent legal challenges. After his time in Major League Baseball, he played in the Mexican League and most recently signed with South Korea’s Kiwoom Heroes.
Puig, 35, initially pled guilty to a felony charge of lying to federal agents investigating the illegal gambling operation. He acknowledged in an August 2022 plea agreement that he racked up more than $280,000 in losses over a few months in 2019 while wagering on tennis, football, and basketball games through a third party working for Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player who operated the gambling ring.
Nix pled guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and subscribing to a false tax return and is still awaiting sentencing. Authorities stated that Puig placed at least 900 bets through Nix-controlled websites, leading to his eventual confrontation with federal investigators regarding his betting habits.
During a January 2022 interview with federal authorities, Puig denied knowledge over his betting activities, including the nature and circumstances behind his gambling debts. However, months later, he switched his plea to not guilty, claiming significant new evidence had emerged, as articulated by his attorneys. I want to clear my name, Puig declared in a statement. I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit.
The government argued that he intentionally misled investigators, presenting audio clips and expert testimony regarding his cognitive abilities. Puig's defense suggested that his limited education and language barrier during the interrogation affected his ability to respond accurately.
Throughout his MLB career, Puig batted .277, racking up 132 home runs and 415 RBIs across seven seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he earned an All-Star selection in 2014. His journey from Cuba to MLB was marked by both talent and controversy, leading to his recent legal challenges. After his time in Major League Baseball, he played in the Mexican League and most recently signed with South Korea’s Kiwoom Heroes.
