In brief
Yasiel Puig, once a promising star in Major League Baseball, has been convicted of obstructing justice in a federal case linked to illegal gambling activities. After a multi-week trial, the jury found him guilty of lying during federal investigations regarding his wagering on sports events. Puig, 35, now risks up to 20 years in prison as he awaits sentencing on May 26. This decision follows his initial guilty plea in 2022, which suggested he incurred over $280,000 in gambling losses. In court, prosecutors accused him of misleading investigators, while Puig’s defense claimed language barriers and educational challenges hindered his understanding during questioning. Puig's career included significant achievements, such as an All-Star selection in 2014, but this legal trouble casts a shadow over his future in baseball.
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 verdict came after a multiweek trial that featured testimony from Major League Baseball officials and Donny Kadokawa, a Hawaii baseball coach that Puig placed bets through. Puig now faces up to 20 years in federal prison and is scheduled to be sentenced May 26.Puig, 35, initially pled guilty to a felony charge of lying to federal agents investigating an illegal gambling operation. He acknowledged in an August 2022 plea agreement that he wracked up more than $280,000 in losses over a few months in 2019 while wagering on tennis, football and basketball games.Authorities said Puig placed at least 900 bets through Nix-controlled betting websites. During a January 2022 interview with federal investigators, Puig denied knowing about the nature of his bets. However, he later changed his plea to not guilty based on significant new evidence. “I want to clear my name,” Puig stated, claiming he never agreed to plead guilty to a crime he did not commit. His legal team argued that language barriers due to his Spanish dialect and his background hindered proper communication with investigators.Puig's impressive MLB career included a batting average of .277 with 132 home runs during seven seasons, earning him a reputation for both his talent and on-field antics.
