Former Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, center, with his agent Lisette Carnet, left, and attorney zen Crump, right, at a news conference outside the federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday February 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA. (Brian va …
LOS ANGELES - Former Dodger Yasiel Puig has been found guilty of lying to investigators about his suspected involvement in illegal sports betting and obstructing justice.
What we know:
Puig, 35, was convicted by a jury in downtown Los Angeles on the 13th day of trial on charges of obstruction of justice and making false statements to federal investigators.
Prosecutors alleged that Puig placed 899 bets on various sporting events—excluding baseball—through an illegal gambling business run by ex-minor league pitcher Wayne Nix.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Yasiel Puig in court over sports betting allegations
According to court papers, Puig owed the business $282,900 in losses by June 2019.
The government contends that Puig lied during a January 2022 interview and again during his 2019 naturalization process regarding his gambling activities.
The backstory:
The case is part of a 2017 probe into an illegal gambling business operated by Newport Coast resident Wayne Nix. Officials said the investigation into Nix's efforts to launder money and hide income from the IRS eventually led authorities to Puig.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former Dodger Yasiel Puig to plead guilty lying about illegal sports bets
Puig no longer plays professionally in the United States. He played six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers before moving to Cincinnati and Cleveland in 2019.
Since his last Major League Baseball appearance, he has played professionally in South Korea, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.
Timeline:
May 2019: Puig allegedly begins placing bets through an intermediary for the Nix gambling business.
January 2022: Puig is interviewed by federal investigators and denies knowledge of the gambling operation.
August 2022: Puig reaches a plea deal to plead guilty to one count of making false statements.
Late 2022: Puig withdraws from the plea deal, stating, "I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit."
January 2023: Prosecutors add an obstruction of justice charge.
January 20, 2026: The federal trial begins in Los Angeles.
Feb. 6, 2026: A jury finds Puig guilty of obstruction of justice and making false statements in the illegal sports betting trial.
What's next:
Sentencing was scheduled for May 26.
The Source: This report is based on federal court filings from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and official statements from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. City News Service contributed.