Former Dodgers All-Star Yasiel Puig has agreed to plead guilty to one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Puig lied"several times" in a January 2022 interview with federal investigators, claiming that he only knew the third party through baseball and never discussed gambling with them. Then, in March 2022, Puig admitted in a WhatsApp audio message to someone connected to Nix's business that he had lied during the interview.
“When given the opportunity to be truthful about his involvement with Nix’s Gambling businesses, Mr. Puig chose not to,” IRS Criminal Investigation Los Angeles Field Office Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher said. “Mr. Puig’s lies hindered the legal and procedural tasks of the investigators and prosecutors.”
Former MLB player Erik Hiljus also agreed to plead guilty on Monday to two counts of subscribing to false tax returns, which carries a maximum of six years in prison. Hiljus, who played for the Detroit Tigers andover four big league seasons, was an agent for Nix's business but did not work with Puig.
In April, Nix pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal sports gambling business and one count of filing a false tax return.. In 2019, his last MLB season, Puig played for the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians. He made one All-Star Game and finished second in 2013 NL Rookie of the Year voting.
Most recently, Puig played 126 games for the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization in 2022.
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