Prosecutors Want Yasiel Puig to Serve Prison Time

Federal prosecutors requested former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig receive prison time after being convicted by a jury of obstructing justice and lying to authorities—both of which are felonies. Puig was federally charged in February in connection with allegations he had placed illegal bets on sporting events while still in the midst of his MLB career. Prosecutors presented evidence over the course of 13 days, showing Puig placed bets through an intermediary and accrued more than a quarter-million dollars in debt.

After he settled said debt, he continued to place more than 800 online bets on various sports and raised his debt to a nearly $1 million sum, though he never paid it according to federal officers. Per Sam Blum of The Athletic , prosecutors are requesting Puig serves 18 months in prison along with three years of supervised release afterwards. Additionally, they requested he pay $55,200 in fines.

Puig’s attorney, Keri Curtis Axel, stated the defense did not agree with the recommendation of prison time. “Yasiel Puig is a first-time offender who has already been punished through years of prosecution, reputational damage, financial consequences, and the effective destruction of his professional life,” Axel wrote via text . “A prison sentence is not proportional to the conduct and would not accomplish any rehabilitative purpose here.

The Court has complete discretion over the sentence, and the defense will request a sentence of probation. ” Puig will be sentenced in Los Angeles on May 26. Oct 26, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig (66) reacts while a play is under review in the tenth inning against the Boston Red Sox in game three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium.