Gambling Trial of Former Dodgers Star Yasiel Puig Starts Tuesday
Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was scheduled to be in a federal courtroom today in downtown Los Angeles, where he is facing federal charges for allegedly lying to investigators about his involvement in illegal sports betting, in a case that stems from an illegal gambling probe that started in 2017.
Puig’s trial is set to begin over the next two days at approx. 11:30 a.m. PT for both sessions at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California with U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee presiding.
The 35-year-old Puig played seven years in the major leagues, six with the Dodgers along with brief stints with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians. He faces charges of obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements to federal investigators.
In his career, Puig totaled 132 home runs, 415 RBI, 441 runs scored, 79 stolen bases, and a .277 career batting average. He was runner-up in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2013 and earned his only MLB All-Star Game appearance in 2014.
Background on Puig’s Case
The case involves an illegal gambling business run by ex-minor league pitcher Wayne Nix. An investigation into Nix’s actions to launder money and hide income from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) led to Puig’s involvement.
According to federal prosecutors, Puig began placing bets on games in May 2019 through an intermediary of Nix’s and did not do well, owing Nix’s business $282,900 for sports gambling losses incurred the following month. Between July and Sept. 2019, Puig placed a total of 899 bets on tennis, football and basketball games through a Costa Rica-based website associated with Nix, federal prosecutors allege.
Fast forward three years, federal investigators conducted a 90-minute interview with Puig (with lawyer present) on a video conference all in Jan. 2022.
With warnings expressed to Puig that lying to federal agents is a crime, he denied any knowledge of Nix, his gambling business, or anyone involved with it.
“During a final break, the government privately advised the defendant’s then-counsel that the defendant’s statements were contrary to evidence the government had already obtained during the Nix Gambling Business investigation,” said prosecutors in a written trial memorandum. “Counsel conferred with his client outside the presence of the government, but defendant did not change his prior statements.”
Two months later, Puig allegedly sent a recorded message to a friend via WhatsApp according to court records saying
“I no said nothing, I not talking,” said Puig in an English message that was sent via the mobile app. “I said that I only know (Puig’s alleged bookie, a former player) from baseball.”
Guilty Plea Withdrawn
Puig’s quagmire continued as prosecutors contend that he lied to the government as part of his naturalization process in 2019, denying on an application that he had ever gambled illegally or received income from illegal gambling and during an in-person interview when he told the interviewer that he had never gambled illegally.
He reached a deal in August 2022 with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, in which he promised to plead guilty to a single count of lying to federal authorities and agreed to pay a fine of at least $55,000. He withdrew from that deal three months later after finding new evidence. A federal judge determined the plea deal was not binding because he had not yet formally entered his guilty plea in court.
Before he withdrew from the plea deal, Puig was eligible for probation along with the fine.
The case was held up during an appeal regarding the admissibility of the facts of the withdrawn plea agreement, which is where the case begins on Tuesday.
If convicted, Puig faces up to five years in prison for each count of making a false statement. The obstruction of justice charge carries up to a 10-year term.
Nix Faces Prison Time, Nevada Black Book Ban
Nix pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to operate an illegal sports gambling business and filing a false tax return last August. He will receive his sentence in March.
His punishment will likely go beyond his upcoming sentencing, as Nevada gaming officials may add Nix to the state’s Black Book, which contains the names of individuals banned permanently from the state’s casinos. The Nevada Gaming Control Board nominated the former minor leaguer last month, and the Nevada Gaming Commission will determine whether to accept the NGCB’s recommendation.
Nix’s gambling activities also led to former MGM Resorts and Resorts World executive Scott Sibella‘s banishment. The NGC agreed to a December 2024 settlement that revoked Sibella’s gaming license. Gaming officials found the former MGM Grand president culpable for not following anti-money laundering protocols after Nix paid off a six-figure marker in cash. Sibella may reapply for a license in December 2028.
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