Yasiel Puig’s Guilty Plea Hearing Delayed After New Evidence Uncovered

Posted on: November 25, 2022, 12:59h. 

Last updated on: November 25, 2022, 01:27h.

Steve Bittenbender Read More
Expertise: Legislation, Sports Betting, Horse Racing.

Former MLB All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig was expected to enter a guilty plea in federal court Wednesday. He faced a charge that he lied to investigators about placing wagers with an illegal sports betting operation. However, new information in the case may change that move.

Yasiel Puig
Yasiel Puig licks his bat during Kiwoom Heroes in a Korean Baseball Organization game in May. In the US, Puig faces a charge of lying to federal agents regarding allegations of placing illegal sports bets. However, his agent says new evidence may help his case. (Image: Yonhap News Agency)

A status conference has been scheduled for next Tuesday afternoon in the US District Courthouse in Los Angeles.

Wednesday evening, Lisette Carnet, Puig’s agent, posted a statement indicating she discovered “newfound evidence” that she shared with her client’s lead defense attorney, Keri Axel. In addition to changing the hearing date, Carnet said Axel also requested federal prosecutors offer more discovery based on the new evidence.

“The government’s charge is based on the allegations that Mr. Puig attempted to obstruct its inquiry by not being forthcoming about a person of interest and one of the government’s intended targets in the case,” Carnet said. “Yesterday, the government made available the interview reports pertaining to the person of interest. It revealed facts that are exculpatory to Mr. Puig and appear to corroborate facts that Puig told the government.”

Agent: Puig Felt ‘Rushed’ in Feds Interview

Federal agents said Puig lied in a January interview about placing bets with someone who was connected with Wayne Nix, a former minor league ballplayer who entered a guilty plea in April on gambling and falsified tax return charges. The authorities said in a Nov. 14 release that Puig hindered prosecutorial efforts.

However, Carnet issued a statement the following day questioning the charge.

He came to the interview feeling rushed, unprepared, without criminal counsel with him, and also lacked his own interpreter,” Carnet stated on Nov. 15. “Given his history growing up in authoritarian Cuba, government interviews are triggering and only worsen his ADHD symptoms and other mental health struggles, for which he is in treatment. He would have benefitted from this care at the time of the interview.”

Authorities say Puig started betting with Nix in May 2019, when he was playing for the Cincinnati Reds, and had lost nearly $283,000 by June. After paying $200,000 toward the losses, Puig made 899 more bets on basketball, football, and tennis between July 4, 2019, and Sept. 29, 2019.

None of the wagers involved baseball games.

‘Obligation to Review’ New Evidence

The US Attorney’s press release earlier this month mentioned Puig could face up to five years in federal prison. He also agreed to pay a fine of $55,000. Carnet noted Puig could also receive probation if he goes through with the guilty plea.

On Wednesday, Carnet said that Puig has made great strides in tackling his mental health issues.  He last played in MLB in 2019, and played in South Korea this year. For now, she added he just wants to put the federal investigation “behind him.”

“His attorneys, however, have the obligation to review with him all his possible defense, and this new information is sufficient to cause great pause and have his attorneys ask the court for a few days time while defense counsel if able to determine the appropriate next steps for Mr. Puig’s case,” Carnet added.