Yasiel Puig is in some big trouble that could cost him his freedom. The former Los Angeles Dodgers star agreed to plead guilty to lying to federal law enforcement about making sports bets using an illegal operation. The 31-year-old also agreed to pay a $55,000 fine and will appear in court Tuesday.
The Justice Department said Puig started placing sports bets through a third party in 2019. The third-party was identified in court documents “Agent 1” and it worked on behalf of Wayne Joseph Nix, of Newport Coast, California, who ran the illegal gambling operation officials said.
Puig owed the business $282,900 for losses, officials said. However, after paying off his debts, he would then place 899 bets on tennis, football, and basketball games through Nix’s betting websites from July to September 2019.
“When given the opportunity to be truthful about his involvement with Nix’s Gambling businesses, Mr. Puig chose not to,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Los Angeles Field Office Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher. “Mr. Puig’s lies hindered the legal and procedural tasks of the investigators and prosecutors.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s statement said Puig “lied several times” to federal investigations in January. He was untruthful about not knowing to who he sent a $200,00 check and admitted to deceiving agents in a WhatsApp message.
“Under our system of justice, no one is above the law,” U.S. attorney Martin Estrada said. “The integrity of our nation’s criminal justice system depends on people telling the truth, and those who fail to abide by this simple principle must face consequences.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Monday that Puig agreed to pay a fine of at least $55,000. The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of five years.
The 31-year-old, who spent seven seasons with the Dodgers and parts of one season in both Cincinnati and Cleveland, is currently playing in the Korean Baseball Organization. He is due in court next on Tuesday.
