LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former major league outfielder Yasiel Puig has been found guilty of obstruction of justice and lying to federal officials related to an illegal gambling operation, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Friday. The jury’s verdict followed a trial lasting several weeks, which included testimonies from Major League Baseball officials and a Hawaiian baseball coach through whom Puig placed his bets.
Puig, now aged 35, faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and is scheduled for sentencing on May 26. Initially, he pled guilty to a felony charge related to the gambling investigation, admitting to losses exceeding $280,000 over several months in 2019 by betting on tennis, football, and basketball via a third party linked to an illegal gambling ring run by Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player.
Nix himself pled guilty in 2022 to charges related to conspiracy and tax fraud and is currently awaiting sentencing.
Authorities revealed that Puig placed approximately 900 bets through Nix-controlled websites. During a January 2022 interview with investigators, Puig reportedly denied any knowledge about the details of his wagers or his gambling debts. However, he later switched his plea to not guilty, claiming he was influenced by new evidence, stating, I want to clear my name. I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit.
The prosecution argued that Puig had intentionally misled investigators, presenting audio evidence and expert testimony regarding his understanding of the situation. His defense posited that Puig, who has a third-grade education, suffered from untreated mental health issues and lacked proper representation during the interviews. His former attorney claimed language barriers contributed to misunderstandings during questioning.
Before this legal controversy, Puig had a notable MLB career, maintaining a batting average of .277 with 132 home runs and 415 RBIs over seven seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he was recognized as an All-Star in 2014. Known for his dynamic playing style, he was famously dubbed the wild horse by Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully. After stints with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, Puig played in the Mexican League and recently signed with South Korea's Kiwoom Heroes.
Puig, now aged 35, faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and is scheduled for sentencing on May 26. Initially, he pled guilty to a felony charge related to the gambling investigation, admitting to losses exceeding $280,000 over several months in 2019 by betting on tennis, football, and basketball via a third party linked to an illegal gambling ring run by Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player.
Nix himself pled guilty in 2022 to charges related to conspiracy and tax fraud and is currently awaiting sentencing.
Authorities revealed that Puig placed approximately 900 bets through Nix-controlled websites. During a January 2022 interview with investigators, Puig reportedly denied any knowledge about the details of his wagers or his gambling debts. However, he later switched his plea to not guilty, claiming he was influenced by new evidence, stating, I want to clear my name. I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit.
The prosecution argued that Puig had intentionally misled investigators, presenting audio evidence and expert testimony regarding his understanding of the situation. His defense posited that Puig, who has a third-grade education, suffered from untreated mental health issues and lacked proper representation during the interviews. His former attorney claimed language barriers contributed to misunderstandings during questioning.
Before this legal controversy, Puig had a notable MLB career, maintaining a batting average of .277 with 132 home runs and 415 RBIs over seven seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he was recognized as an All-Star in 2014. Known for his dynamic playing style, he was famously dubbed the wild horse by Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully. After stints with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, Puig played in the Mexican League and recently signed with South Korea's Kiwoom Heroes.
