Yasiel Puig has pleaded guilty in connection with an illegal gambling ring. The United States Department of Justice announced Monday that the 31-year-old, former Los Angeles Dodger and Cincinnati Red outfielder pled guilty to one charge of lying to federal law enforcement officials. His punishment in the plea agreement is unknown, but carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison or and may be banned from entering into the United States again.
The Justice Department’s released a statement saying Puig lost nearly $300k between May and June of 2019. After paying a third-party $200k in cashier’s checks, Puig continued to place nearly 900 bets on tennis, football and basketball games between July and September of 2019. It’s unknown if he made any bets on Baseball games.
Puig played for the Dodgers from 2013 through 2018, and played for the Reds and Guardians in 2019. He currently plays professionally in South Korea.
