A trial in the federal case against former Dodgers star Yasiel Puig is now underway in Los Angeles.
Proceedings formally kicked off in a downtown courtroom early Tuesday, as prosecutors allege Puig made bets with an illegal gambling operation in 2019 and then lied about it to investigators.
Puig placed the wagers on sporting events through a business run by former minor league pitcher Wayne Nix, according to prosecutors.
He would submit the bets to an associate, who would then relay them to Nix, prosecutors claim. In just a few weeks, Puig allegedly accumulated $282,900 in losses.
Prosecutors allege that after Puig sent Nix $200,000 to offset the gambling debt, he was then given access to Nix’s sports betting websites, where he went on to make 899 wagers on tennis, football and basketball games.
In 2022, federal investigators questioned Puig about his role in the gambling operation, and they claim he made false statements to them multiple times. They allege Puig later sent an audio message to an associate where he could be heard admitting to lying to investigators during the interview.
Puig is facing three total charges in the case, one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements.
Puig initially cut a deal with prosecutors to close out the case in November 2022, agreeing to plead guilty to lying to federal investigators. But days later, he backed out of the pact, proclaiming his innocence in a statement.
“I want to clear my name,” he said at the time. “I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit.”
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Court documents show the trial is expected to last around eight or nine days.
Puig is facing prison time if convicted of the charges.
Puig made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2013 and quickly became one of the team’s most popular players. He remained in Los Angeles until 2018, when he was traded to the Reds. He finished his MLB career with Cleveland.
Puig went on to log at-bats in South Korea as well as the Mexican League.
