Yasiel Puig found guilty of obstruction of justice
A federal jury has found former Major League Baseball player Yasiel Puig guilty on charges of obstruction of justice and providing false information to federal officials. The decision came after a trial that lasted several weeks.
During the trial, evidence and testimonies related to an investigation into an illegal sports betting network were presented.
Puig now faces the possibility of a sentence of up to 20 federal prison years. The sentence is scheduled for May 26.Research Details
The authorities revealed that Puig placed at least 900 bets through platforms associated with an illegal operation led by Wayne Nix, a former minor league player. Nix pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and to filing a false tax return.
Initially, Puig admitted to having lied to federal agents during an investigation, acknowledging losses exceeding $280,000 in 2019, betting on sports such as tennis, American football, and basketball. However, he later withdrew his guilty plea.
Prosecutors argued that the former player deliberately denied knowing the details of his bets and the identity of the people involved when questioned in January 2022. Recordings of Puig in English were presented, as well as experts who evaluated his cognitive abilities.Defense Arguments
The defense argued that Puig, with a low level of formal education, faced untreated mental health problems and did not have an adequate interpreter or criminal counsel during the interview in which he allegedly lied.Yasiel Puig’s Career
Puig, 35 years old, had a distinguished career in the Major Leagues, where he batted .277 with 132 home runs and 415 RBIs in seven seasons. He was selected to the All-Star Game in 2014 and earned the nickname “The Wild Horse” for his explosive style of play.
After his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he also played for the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians before continuing his career in international leagues, including Mexico and South Korea.
