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 used by Puig for placing 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 probing the illegal gambling operation. He acknowledged in an August 2022 plea agreement that he lost more than $280,000 within a few months in 2019 while wagering on various sports through a third party affiliated with Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player running the gambling operation.
Nix had pled guilty in 2022 to operating an illegal gambling business and false tax return laws, and is currently awaiting sentencing.
According to authorities, Puig placed at least 900 bets via Nix-controlled betting sites and through intermediaries. Prosecutors alleged that during a January 2022 interview, Puig misled federal investigators, denying knowledge about his betting activities, partners, and how he settled his gambling debts.
However, months later, Puig sought to withdraw his plea, claiming new evidence that warranted a change in his stance. 'I want to clear my name,' he stated. 'I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit.'
The prosecution countered that Puig was deceptive in his interactions with investigators, presenting audio evidence and expert testimony regarding his cognitive understanding of the events.
Puig’s legal team maintained that he struggled with language and mental health challenges during the investigation, lacking proper legal counsel or an adequate interpreter. Testimonies indicated that Puig, who has a third-grade education, was trying to cooperate during the inquiry.
In his MLB career, Puig achieved a batting average of .277, with 132 home runs and 415 RBIs while playing seven major league seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Dodgers where he earned an All-Star selection in 2014. Known for his explosive style and dubbed the 'wild horse' by Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, Puig's MLB debut followed after he fled Cuba.
Post-MLB, Puig briefly played for the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians in 2019, later joining the Kiwoom Heroes in South Korea for a one-year deal.
The verdict came after a multiweek trial that featured testimony from Major League Baseball officials and Donny Kadokawa, a Hawaii baseball coach used by Puig for placing 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 probing the illegal gambling operation. He acknowledged in an August 2022 plea agreement that he lost more than $280,000 within a few months in 2019 while wagering on various sports through a third party affiliated with Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player running the gambling operation.
Nix had pled guilty in 2022 to operating an illegal gambling business and false tax return laws, and is currently awaiting sentencing.
According to authorities, Puig placed at least 900 bets via Nix-controlled betting sites and through intermediaries. Prosecutors alleged that during a January 2022 interview, Puig misled federal investigators, denying knowledge about his betting activities, partners, and how he settled his gambling debts.
However, months later, Puig sought to withdraw his plea, claiming new evidence that warranted a change in his stance. 'I want to clear my name,' he stated. 'I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit.'
The prosecution countered that Puig was deceptive in his interactions with investigators, presenting audio evidence and expert testimony regarding his cognitive understanding of the events.
Puig’s legal team maintained that he struggled with language and mental health challenges during the investigation, lacking proper legal counsel or an adequate interpreter. Testimonies indicated that Puig, who has a third-grade education, was trying to cooperate during the inquiry.
In his MLB career, Puig achieved a batting average of .277, with 132 home runs and 415 RBIs while playing seven major league seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Dodgers where he earned an All-Star selection in 2014. Known for his explosive style and dubbed the 'wild horse' by Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, Puig's MLB debut followed after he fled Cuba.
Post-MLB, Puig briefly played for the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians in 2019, later joining the Kiwoom Heroes in South Korea for a one-year deal.
