Former Major League Baseball standout Yasiel Puig has been convicted on federal charges tied to an illegal sports gambling investigation, marking a stunning fall from grace for the former star outfielder.
A Los Angeles federal jury on Friday, Feb. 6 found the 35-year-old guilty of obstruction of justice and making false statements to federal investigators, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
Federal prosecutors presented evidence at the 13-day trial that Puig began placing bets through an underground sports betting operation in May 2019. Court records show that he placed nearly 900 bets on sports including tennis, football, and basketball over a three-month span that year and at one point owed more than $200,000 in gambling losses.
The conviction stems largely from a January 2022 interview with federal agents, during which prosecutors said Puig repeatedly lied about his involvement with the illegal gambling business and people connected to it. In a WhatsApp audio message sent two months later, he allegedly admitted to obstructing the grand jury probe and lying to investigators.
Puig’s defense attorneys argued that he struggled with untreated mental health issues and that language and legal support challenges hampered his ability to speak with authorities effectively.
The former Cuban star is not currently in custody. His sentencing hearing is set for May 26, where he could face up to 15 years in federal prison under the charges.
Puig first signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 and became one of baseball’s most electrifying players, later moving on to the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians before continuing his career overseas.