LOS ANGELES (KNX) – A former outfielder for the Dodgers will plead guilty to a federal charge for lying to federal officials about bets on sporting events that he placed with an illegal gambling operation, court documents revealed.
Yasiel Puig, 31, agreed to plead guilty to one count of making false statements, officials said, adding that the crime carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.
His plea agreement revealed that in May 2019, Puig began placing bets on sporting events through a man who worked with an illegal gambling business run by Wayne Nix, 46. Officials referred to the unidentified man as “Agent 1.”
“By June 2019, Puig owed Nix’s gambling business $282,900 for sports gambling losses,” federal officials said.
Puig was interviewed January 2022 where officials said he lied multiple times, including that “he never discussed gambling” with Agent 1, when Puig actually discussed it over telephone and through text messages over a hundred times.
On April 11, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal sports gambling business and one count of filing a false tax return.
His sentencing has been scheduled for March 8, 2023.
Puig was with the Dodgers from 2013 through 2018. He also played for the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians. He currently plays professional baseball in South Korea.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Related
Related
