A federal jury in Los Angeles found former Major League Baseball outfielder Yasiel Puig guilty of obstruction of justice and making false statements to investigators probing an illegal gambling operation. The 35-year-old Cuban defector faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing set for May 26. Puig's defense plans post-trial motions, arguing flaws in the prosecution's case.
Yasiel Puig, who played seven seasons in MLB primarily with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was convicted on February 6, 2026, following a 13-day trial. The charges stem from his involvement in an illegal gambling ring operated by Wayne Nix, a former minor league player who pleaded guilty in 2022 to related offenses and awaits sentencing.
Evidence showed Puig placed 899 bets on tennis, football, and basketball games between July 4 and September 29, 2019, amassing losses of at least $280,000. Many wagers occurred at MLB ballparks around his games. In June 2019, Puig paid $200,000 to settle part of his debt by wiring funds through a Bank of America withdrawal, as instructed by the operation. Prosecutors alleged he ran up nearly $1 million in unpaid debt.
During a January 2022 interview with federal agents, Puig denied knowledge of the gambling operation, his betting contacts, and debt payments, despite being warned that lying was a crime. He claimed the $200,000 payment was for an online bet loss to an unknown party. In March 2022, Puig sent a WhatsApp audio message to an associate admitting he had lied to agents and obstructed the grand jury investigation.
Puig initially pleaded guilty in August 2022 but withdrew the plea, citing 'significant new evidence.' 'I want to clear my name,' he stated. 'I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit.' His attorney, Keri Curtis Axel, said the government failed to prove key elements and vowed to file motions. 'We look forward to clearing Yasiel’s name,' she added.
The defense highlighted Puig's third-grade education, untreated mental health issues, lack of personal interpreter during the interview—where translation struggles arose due to his Spanish dialect—and absence of criminal counsel. Former attorney Steven Gebelin testified that Puig aimed to cooperate. Prosecutors countered with audio of Puig speaking English and expert testimony on his cognitive abilities.
Puig also allegedly lied about gambling during his U.S. naturalization process. The trial featured testimony from MLB officials and Donny Kadokawa, a Hawaii coach through whom Puig bet.
This case underscores growing scrutiny on MLB gambling, with recent indictments of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz for providing betting information, facing up to 65 years if convicted.
Puig's career highlights include a .277 batting average, 132 home runs, 415 RBIs, and a 2014 All-Star nod with the Dodgers. After stints with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians in 2019, he played in Mexico and signed a $1 million deal with South Korea's Kiwoom Heroes in 2025.
