Yasiel Puig Found Guilty in Federal Gambling Probe

A federal jury has found former MLB outfielder Yasiel Puig guilty of obstruction of justice and making false statements to federal investigators probing an illegal gambling operation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

The verdict followed a multiweek trial in Los Angeles that included testimony from Major League Baseball officials and Donny Kadokawa, a Hawaii-based baseball coach through whom Puig placed bets. Puig, 35, now faces a potential prison sentence and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26.

Puig’s attorney, Keri Curtis Axel, said the government failed to prove key elements of its case and indicated plans to file post-trial motions. “We look forward to clearing Yasiel’s name,” Axel said after the verdict.

From Guilty Plea to Trial Verdict

Puig initially agreed to plead guilty in August 2022 to lying to federal agents. In that plea agreement, he admitted to accumulating more than $280,000 in gambling losses over a few months in 2019 by betting on tennis, football and basketball through a third party tied to an illegal gambling operation run by former minor leaguer Wayne Nix.

Months later, Puig withdrew that plea, citing what his attorneys described as “significant new evidence,” and chose to fight the charges at trial.

Prosecutors argued that during a January 2022 interview with federal agents, Puig falsely denied knowing key details about his betting activity, including who facilitated the wagers and how he paid his gambling debts. In court, prosecutors presented audio recordings of Puig speaking English and expert testimony regarding his cognitive ability to understand investigators’ questions.

Defense Raised Language and Mental Health Concerns

Puig’s defense team argued that he did not fully understand the situation during the federal interview. His attorneys said Puig, who has a third-grade education, dealt with untreated mental health issues and did not have personal legal counsel or a reliable interpreter present when questioned.

Former attorney Steven Gebelin testified that Puig attempted to cooperate with investigators and that the interpreter struggled with Puig’s Cuban Spanish dialect.

Despite those arguments, jurors sided with prosecutors after 13 days of testimony.

Gambling Ties Date Back to 2019 Season

Authorities said Puig placed nearly 900 bets between July and September 2019 through websites controlled by Nix and associates. Some of those wagers allegedly occurred before or after games while Puig played for the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland during his final MLB season.

Nix pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and filing a false tax return. He remains awaiting sentencing.

Puig faces up to 20 years in federal prison under the charges, though sentencing guidelines could result in less time. He remains free pending his May 26 sentencing hearing.

Puig played seven MLB seasons, batting .277 with 132 home runs and earning an All-Star selection with the Dodgers in 2014. Since leaving MLB, he has played professionally in Mexico and South Korea.

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