Cincinnati Reds right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) throws a handful of sunflower seeds into his mouth in the seventh inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. The Cubs took the first game of the series, 3-1. Chicago Cubs At Cincinnati Reds
Syndication: Cincinnati
Yasiel Puig has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge for lying to law enforcement officials about bets that he placed with an illegal gambling operation, according to court documents unsealed today.
Puig, 31, who currently plays professional baseball in South Korea, placed 899 illegal sports bets — on tennis, football, and basketball games — over just a three-month period in 2019.
Yasiel Puig began the 2019 season with the Reds. He played in 100 games with Cincinnati that year before getting dealt at the trade deadline Cleveland. Following the 2019 season Yasiel Puig couldn’t find a big league job and has played in Mexico and Korea over the last two seasons.
Puig lied to federal law enforcement officials who were investigating the operation, which was started by former A’s minor leaguer Wayne Nix.
Puig’s felony charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. He has agreed to pay a fine of at least $55,000 and will appear in United States District Court on November 15.
