Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was found guilty on multiple charges stemming from his involvement in an illegal sports gambling ring, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The 35-year-old was charged with one count of obstruction of justice and one count of making false statements. Puig lied to federal law enforcement officials about placing sports bets with an illegal gambling operation, per the release.

Puig’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 26. The obstruction of justice charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Puig faces up to five years in prison for the false statement charge. The former big leaguer is not in custody and is presently free on his own personal recognizance.

Yasiel Puig Placed 900 Bets With an Illegal Gambling Operation

Puig’s illegal gambling activity started in May 2019, per the release. He began placing sports bets through Donny Kadokawa, who was part of an illegal gambling business run by Wayne Nix. Baseball fans may be familiar with Nix, the former minor leaguer who ran a multi-million-dollar sports gambling operation that involved current and former professional athletes. In April 2022, Nix pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the enterprise.

In just a month of activity, Puig owed Nix’s operation $282,900. After settling the initial debt, Puig continued to run up the tab. From July to September 2019, he placed nearly 900 bets on tennis, football, and basketball games through gambling websites controlled by Nix, according to the release. Many of the bets were made at MLB ballparks shortly before or after games Puig was participating in. The outfielder racked up nearly $1 million in debt, which he never paid.

Puig Misled Investigators, Lied on Government Form

Federal investigators interviewed Puig in January 2022. He lied about his relationship with Kadokawa during the interview, per the release. Puig said he never discussed gambling in his interactions with Kadokawa, but the pair had talked about sports betting hundreds of times via call and text. Two months after speaking with investigators, Puig sent an audio message through WhatsApp to Nix associate Benny Bonilla, in which he admitted to lying to federal agents and to obstructing their grand jury investigation, according to the release.

In addition to the false claims made while speaking with federal investigators, Puig also lied on a U.S. government immigration form and during his naturalization interview, per the release. In both instances, he stated that he had never participated in or made money from illegal gambling.

Puig’s seven-year MLB career ended in 2019. He was a Dodger from 2013 to 2018, before making brief stops with the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Guardians. The Cuban outfielder burst onto the scene as a rookie, hitting .319 with 19 home runs and 11 steals in 104 games. Puig finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting to Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez. He earned his lone All-Star nomination the following season, slashing .296/.382/.480 as L.A.’s primary right fielder.

Puig played for the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO league in South Korea in 2025. He appeared in 40 games with the club.