sport news Ex-Dodgers star Yasiel Puig faces up to FIVE YEARS for lying to feds about ... trends now
Former Major League All-Star Yasiel Puig has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of lying to federal investigators about his involvement in an illegal gambling operation, according to the Department of Justice.
The 31-year-old, who is currently playing in South Korea, will plead guilty to one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. He also agreed to pay of fine of at least $55,000. Puig will make his initial appearance in US District Court in California on Tuesday.
Sports gambling remains illegal in California after several ballot initiatives were voted down last week.
Former Major League All-Star Yasiel Puig has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of lying to federal investigators about his involvement in an illegal gambling operation, according to the Department of Justice. The 31-year-old, who is currently playing in South Korea, will plead guilty to one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison
Puig filed the plea agreement in August, stating that he began betting on sporting events in 2019 through a third party – identified in court documents as 'Agent 1' – who was involved in an illegal gambling operation run by 46-year-old Wayne Joseph Nix.
Puig ultimately owed Nix $282,900 in gambling losses by June of 2019.
Agent 1 and another person, identified as 'Individual B,' told Puig to write a check or wire transfer payable to Nix or his gambling client, 'Individual A.'
Then, on June 25, 2019, Puig withdrew $200,000 from Bank of America and bought two cashiers' checks for $100,000 apiece, made payable to Individual A.
After the two sides resolved a dispute over the balance, Individual A gave Puig full access to his betting websites. Between July 4, 2019 and September 29, 2019, Puig placed 899 additional bets on football,
