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, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Friday.
The verdict was reached after a multi-week trial that included testimony from Major League Baseball officials and Donny Kadokawa, a baseball coach from Hawaii through whom Puig placed bets. Now 35 years old, Puig faces up to 20 years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for May 26.
Puig reportedly acknowledged in an August 2022 plea agreement that he incurred losses exceeding $280,000 over a few months in 2019 while betting on various sports using a third party linked to a gambling operation led by Wayne Nix, a former minor league player. Nix himself pled guilty to conspiracy charges in 2022 and is awaiting sentencing.
Federal authorities stated that Puig had placed approximately 900 bets through Nix's networks. Prosecutors highlighted that during a January 2022 interview with investigators, Puig denied knowledge of his betting activities and the nature of his debts.
In a surprising turn of events, Puig later attempted to switch his plea to not guilty due to ‘significant new evidence,’ insisting that he never should have pled guilty initially. His statements, aiming to clear his name, suggest a profound denial of wrongdoing.
The government's case portrayed Puig as having intentionally misled officials, backing this with recorded sound clips and expert testimonials regarding his cognitive abilities during the trial.
Supporters of Puig argued that his limited education and untreated mental health issues contributed to misunderstandings with investigators. His former attorney claimed that language difficulties interfered during Puig's questioning.
Puig had a notable career in MLB, batting .277 with 132 home runs over seven seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Renowned for his dynamic playing style and charisma on the field, Puig earned the moniker "wild horse" from Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, having joined the league after migrating from Cuba. After his time in MLB, he played in the Mexican League before signing a contract with South Korea's Kiwoom Heroes last year.
The verdict was reached after a multi-week trial that included testimony from Major League Baseball officials and Donny Kadokawa, a baseball coach from Hawaii through whom Puig placed bets. Now 35 years old, Puig faces up to 20 years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for May 26.
Puig reportedly acknowledged in an August 2022 plea agreement that he incurred losses exceeding $280,000 over a few months in 2019 while betting on various sports using a third party linked to a gambling operation led by Wayne Nix, a former minor league player. Nix himself pled guilty to conspiracy charges in 2022 and is awaiting sentencing.
Federal authorities stated that Puig had placed approximately 900 bets through Nix's networks. Prosecutors highlighted that during a January 2022 interview with investigators, Puig denied knowledge of his betting activities and the nature of his debts.
In a surprising turn of events, Puig later attempted to switch his plea to not guilty due to ‘significant new evidence,’ insisting that he never should have pled guilty initially. His statements, aiming to clear his name, suggest a profound denial of wrongdoing.
The government's case portrayed Puig as having intentionally misled officials, backing this with recorded sound clips and expert testimonials regarding his cognitive abilities during the trial.
Supporters of Puig argued that his limited education and untreated mental health issues contributed to misunderstandings with investigators. His former attorney claimed that language difficulties interfered during Puig's questioning.
Puig had a notable career in MLB, batting .277 with 132 home runs over seven seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Renowned for his dynamic playing style and charisma on the field, Puig earned the moniker "wild horse" from Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, having joined the league after migrating from Cuba. After his time in MLB, he played in the Mexican League before signing a contract with South Korea's Kiwoom Heroes last year.
