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 through whom Puig placed bets. Puig now faces up to 20 years in federal prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26.
Puig, 35, initially pled guilty to a felony charge of lying to federal agents investigating the gambling operation. In an August 2022 plea agreement, he acknowledged accruing over $280,000 in losses within months in 2019 while betting on various sporting events through a third party associated with Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player who ran the illegal operation.
Nix pled guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and was awaiting sentencing. Prosecutors reported that Puig placed at least 900 bets through Nix-controlled websites.
During a January 2022 meeting with federal investigators, Puig denied knowledge of his betting activities, the identities of his betting associates, and methods of repaying debts.
However, months later, he sought to change his plea to not guilty, citing significant new evidence as stated by his attorneys. Puig expressed his desire to clear his name, claiming he wrongfully admitted to a crime he didn’t commit.
The government argued that Puig misled authorities, presenting audio recordings and expert testimony on his cognitive capabilities.
Puig's attorneys contended that he faced communication barriers due to a lack of proper legal counsel during his interview with investigators. His former attorney testified that Puig was attempting to cooperate during questioning but struggled with issues related to his dialect.
Throughout his MLB career, Puig earned a .277 batting average with 132 home runs over seven seasons, predominantly with the Dodgers, where he was named an All-Star in 2014. Dubbed the wild horse by Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, Puig made a remarkable entry into MLB at the age of 22, having fled Cuba. After playing for the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, he joined the Mexican League and signed a one-year contract with South Korea's Kiwoom Heroes last year.
The verdict came after a multiweek trial that featured testimony from Major League Baseball officials and Donny Kadokawa, a Hawaii baseball coach through whom Puig placed bets. Puig now faces up to 20 years in federal prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26.
Puig, 35, initially pled guilty to a felony charge of lying to federal agents investigating the gambling operation. In an August 2022 plea agreement, he acknowledged accruing over $280,000 in losses within months in 2019 while betting on various sporting events through a third party associated with Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player who ran the illegal operation.
Nix pled guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and was awaiting sentencing. Prosecutors reported that Puig placed at least 900 bets through Nix-controlled websites.
During a January 2022 meeting with federal investigators, Puig denied knowledge of his betting activities, the identities of his betting associates, and methods of repaying debts.
However, months later, he sought to change his plea to not guilty, citing significant new evidence as stated by his attorneys. Puig expressed his desire to clear his name, claiming he wrongfully admitted to a crime he didn’t commit.
The government argued that Puig misled authorities, presenting audio recordings and expert testimony on his cognitive capabilities.
Puig's attorneys contended that he faced communication barriers due to a lack of proper legal counsel during his interview with investigators. His former attorney testified that Puig was attempting to cooperate during questioning but struggled with issues related to his dialect.
Throughout his MLB career, Puig earned a .277 batting average with 132 home runs over seven seasons, predominantly with the Dodgers, where he was named an All-Star in 2014. Dubbed the wild horse by Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, Puig made a remarkable entry into MLB at the age of 22, having fled Cuba. After playing for the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, he joined the Mexican League and signed a one-year contract with South Korea's Kiwoom Heroes last year.
