Ninth Circuit Court Overturns Previous Conviction in Puig Sports Betting Case
May 30, 2025
Former Major League Baseball Player, Yasiel Puig, Wins Appeal against Plea Deal Enforcement
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ruled in favor of former Major League Baseball (MLB) player Yasiel Puig, denying the federal government's attempt to enforce a guilty plea agreement. The agreement was initially reached following allegations that Puig, 34, placed illegal sports wagers in 2019 and made false statements to the Justice Department.
Puig, who played for the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians during the year in question, allegedly wagered on nearly 900 games in basketball, football, and tennis—excluding MLB contests. This wrongdoing was facilitated via a California-based black market sports wagering business linked to former minor league baseball player, Wayne Nix.
In January 2022, Puig was questioned by Justice Department officers, who warned him that providing false or misleading statements could result in felony charges. Despite this warning, four months later, Puig agreed to a plea deal where he would plead guilty to a single count of making false statements, and the Department of Justice would drop obstruction charges.
However, Puig later reneged on the agreement in November 2022. His agent, Lisette Carnet, uncovered new evidence that weakened the Department of Justice's case. Puig felt rushed, unprepared, and lacked his own criminal defense counsel during the initial interview with the Department of Justice.
Carnet also pointed out that no plea arrangement resulted from the first interview, and Federal Rule of Evidence 410 prevents such discussions from being admitted against the defendant unless they culminate in a guilty plea or withdrawn guilty plea. The Ninth Circuit agreed with this perspective, stating that Puig's waiver was not triggered in this case.
The Court also emphasized that as a Type A plea agreement, the plea agreement in question required the district court's approval, which was never granted. Therefore, the agreement was unenforceable, and Puig's legal team can continue to utilize Rule 410, preventing the factual basis of his plea from being used against him.
Federal prosecutors maintain that Puig lied about his involvement with "Agent 1," the individual through whom the wagers were placed, and lost nearly $283,000 betting on sports. Despite this, the court's decision allows Puig to avoid the potential felony charges for false statements and obstruction of justice that would have resulted from the plea agreement.
- The court's decision in favor of Yasiel Puig has raised questions about the enforcement of plea deals in sports-betting related crimes, a topic that falls under general-news and crime-and-justice.
- The legal implications of this case could potentially impact other professional athletes involved in sports betting, especially considering the current debate on legalizing sports betting and the associated scandals.
- The Ninth Circuit's ruling on Yasiel Puig's appeal was significant as it highlighted the importance of proper counsel and due process during interrogations, especially in sports-betting cases.
- The decision not to enforce the plea agreement against Yasiel Puig, despite allegations of illegal sports betting and making false statements, has sparked conversations about the balance between law enforcement and individual rights in sports, particularly in the context of MLB.
