Prosecutors are requesting a sentence of 18 months in prison for Yasiel Puig after the former MLB player was found guilty on two federal charges. The charges relate to Puig’s involvement with illegal bookie Wayne Nix, who is likely to face a shorter sentence.
Puis is set to be sentenced on May 26. Nix is still awaiting sentencing, but after pleading guilty, he will likely face a similar punishment to fellow illegal bookie Mathew Bowyer.
Bowyer, who famously accepted wagers from Shohei Ohtani’s disgraced interpreter, received a 12-month prison sentence. He pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return.
Puig Sentenced Due to Lack of Cooperation
Puig was found guilty of making false statements to investigators and obstructing justice. These offenses carry a sentence of up to 20 years, but prosecutors are requesting 18 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release and a fine of $55,200. Nix’s charges carry a maximum sentence of 8 years.
Puig’s case centers on an interview he gave in 2022, where he denied placing illegal bets. He told investigators that he knew Donny Kadokawa, the intermediary he placed bets with, through baseball, not sports betting.
He is alleged to have lost over $1.5 million gambling with Nix through Kadokawa. Yet it is his lack of cooperation, rather than the illegal betting, that will see him locked up.
The 35-year-old originally agreed to a plea deal in the case, telling prosecutors he would plead guilty to one count of making a false statement to a federal agent and pay a $55,000 fine. However, he later backed out of the deal.
Investigators cited his lack of cooperation when playing audio of interviews during the trial. Nix also said dealing with the ex-Dodger was a “disaster.” While cooperating with investigators, the bookie said he cut ties with the player because “he simply wasn’t worth the headache.”
Nix said Puig was continually unwilling to pay his losses and yet demanded additional credit to lay more bets.
Defense Appeals for Leniency
Keri Curtis Axel, Puig’s attorney, has urged the judge to be lenient and spare his client from prison time.
“Yasiel Puig is a first-time offender who has already been punished through years of prosecution, reputational damage, financial consequences, and the effective destruction of his professional life,” she told The Athletic.
“A prison sentence is not proportional to the conduct and would not accomplish any rehabilitative purpose here. The Court has complete discretion over the sentence, and the defense will request a sentence of probation.”
Puig Escaped Punishment for Sexual Assaults
While facing a prison sentence for lying to investigators, Puig has escaped punishment for seemingly more severe crimes.
In March 2021, a woman accused him of sexual assault during a Lakers game in 2018. He denied the allegations, but the woman later sued him. The two parties settled in 2022, as reported by Sports Illustrated.
He is also alleged to have settled a lawsuit filed by two women who claimed he sexually assaulted them in 2017. The settlements were kept secret, allowing Puig to avoid any sanctions from MLB over the cases.
Puig Continues Career in Canada Despite Charges
Despite the potential of facing prison time in the near future, Puig signed a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs last month. He started their first game on May 10, hitting two home runs in the process.
When announcing his signing, the Canadian Baseball League made no mention of his likely imprisonment, but stated, “Puig’s signing continues a growing trend of high-profile talent joining the CBL.”
The Leafs have reportedly given the former Dodgers star the largest contract in Canadian Baseball League history. Before signing for Toronto, Puig had been playing in Korea for the Kiwoom Heroes.
