At a Glance
- Yasiel Puig faces up to 20 years if convicted on three federal counts tied to illegal sports betting
- The ex-Dodger allegedly placed 899 bets and racked up $282,900 in losses during 2019
- He reneged on a plea deal that would have meant only a $55,000 fine and probation
- Why it matters: The case tests how tightly prosecutors can squeeze athletes who gamble illegally and then deny it
Jury selection begins Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles for former Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, 35, who is charged with obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements to federal investigators about his alleged involvement in an illegal sports-betting ring run by ex-minor league pitcher Wayne Nix.
Puig, who last appeared in Major League Baseball in 2019, is accused of lying during a January 2022 video interview when he denied any knowledge of Nix’s gambling operation. Prosecutors say he placed nearly 900 bets through Nix’s Costa Rica-based website between July and September 2019, piling up six-figure losses.
How the Investigation Unfolded
The probe began in 2017 when authorities started tracking Nix, 49, of Newport Coast, for laundering proceeds from an illegal gambling business and hiding income from the IRS. Investigators say the trail soon led to Puig.
Key timeline:
- May 2019 – Puig begins placing bets through an intermediary connected to Nix
- June 2019 – He allegedly owes $282,900 in gambling losses
- July-Sept. 2019 – Puig places 899 bets on tennis, football and basketball
- Jan. 2022 – Federal agents interview Puig; he denies knowing Nix or the operation
- March 2022 – Puig sends a WhatsApp voice note saying, “I no said nothing, I not talking”
Court papers show that during the 90-minute interview agents warned Puig that lying to federal officials is a crime. Despite the warning, he insisted he had no knowledge of Nix’s business or its participants. Prosecutors say that on a final break they privately told Puig’s then-attorney that the player’s statements contradicted evidence already gathered. After conferring outside the government’s presence, Puig did not change his story.
Naturalization Denials Added to Charges
Authorities also claim Puig lied on his 2019 naturalization application, checking “no” when asked if he had ever gambled illegally or received income from illegal gambling. During an in-person interview he reiterated that he had never gambled illegally, according to the indictment.
The Collapsed Plea Deal
In August 2022 Puig struck a deal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. He agreed to plead guilty to one count of making false statements and pay a fine of at least $55,000. Weeks later he walked away from the agreement.
> “I want to clear my name. I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit.”
- Yasiel Puig, August 2022 statement
Because Puig had not yet formally entered the plea in court, a federal judge ruled the deal was non-binding. Had he stayed with it, probation and the fine were the likely outcome.
Current Charges and Penalties
After Puig withdrew, prosecutors added an obstruction-of-justice count. The superseding January 2023 indictment now carries:
- Two counts of making false statements – up to 5 years each
- One count of obstruction of justice – up to 10 years
The case was delayed while defense attorneys appealed the admissibility of facts surrounding the withdrawn plea. U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee will now preside over the trial.
Nix Awaits Sentencing
Nix has already pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to operate an illegal sports-gambling business and filing a false tax return. He is awaiting a sentencing date.
Puig, meanwhile, has maintained his innocence. In an August 2025 post on X he wrote, “This story isn’t over yet, and you weren’t told the full story the first time.”
