Former MLB player, Yasiel Puig Valdes, has agreed to plead guilty to lying to federal agents during an investigation into alleged illegal betting activity.
Now playing in South Korea, the former LA Dodgers player will plead guilty to one charge of making false statements. The plea deal means that Puig will pay a minimum fine of $55,000 and must appear in a US District Court today, 15th November.
Speaking of the plea deal, US Attorney Martin Estrada said:
“Under our system of justice, no one is above the law. The integrity of our nation’s criminal justice system depends on people telling the truth, and those who fail to abide by this simple principle must face consequences.”
Puig was previously accused of wagering on sports through an illegal gambling operation that was run by Wayne Joseph Nix from May 2019 until an unspecified date.
Bets were facilitated through a proxy which court documents list as ‘Agent 1’. The investigation uncovered extensive text messaging and phone records records between Puig and Agent 1 outlining his betting activity. This included 899 sports bets on basketball, tennis, and football placed through the illegal gambling website.
A federal investigation was launched in January 2022 at which point Puig was interviewed. It was during this interview that Puig was believed to have lied several times by saying that he had never discussed sports betting with Agent 1. However, records proved this to be false.
IRS Criminal Investigation Los Angeles Field Office Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher added:
“When given the opportunity to be truthful about his involvement with Nix’s Gambling businesses, Mr Puig chose not to. Mr Puig’s lies hindered the legal and procedural tasks of the investigators and prosecutors.”
Puig will appear in court later today while Nix, who pleaded guilty to operating an illegal sports gambling business and one count of filing a false tax return in April, will be sentenced in March next year.
An experienced iGaming commentator and analyst based in New York City - Jenny reports on regulation and gambling industry news and events.