Orange County resident receives probation and is instructed to surrender $3 million in an illegal gambling matter reportedly involving Yasiel Puig – Orange County Register

A resident of Orange County has been given a sentence of six months probation and has been ordered to forfeit $3 million for his involvement in an illicit bookmaking operation that allegedly roped in former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig.

Edon Kagasoff, a 45-year-old from Lake Forest, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to run the illegal gambling business, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The operation was initiated around a decade ago by Wayne Nix, a 46-year-old former minor league pitcher residing in Newport Coast. In April 2022, Nix pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to operate an illegal sports gambling business and filing a false tax return. His sentencing is set for September 20.

Yasiel Puig, aged 32 and most recently involved in professional baseball in South Korea, is slated to face trial in downtown Los Angeles in January on one federal charge each of making false statements and obstruction of justice.

Prosecutors claim that Puig began placing bets on sports events in May 2019 through a third party. These bets were then directed to Sand Island Sports, an online sportsbook based in Costa Rica, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Erik Hiljus, a former MLB pitcher hailing from San Fernando Valley, who worked as an agent for Nix’s operation, received a sentence of three months’ home detention in April for filing false tax returns.

Hiljus, 50, a resident of Panorama City, was also required to pay $194,701 in fines and restitution. In December of the previous year, he pleaded guilty in a federal court in Los Angeles to two counts of filing false tax returns.

Hiljus made his Major League Baseball debut with the Tigers in 1999, but primarily played for the Oakland Athletics in 2001 and 2002 before wrapping up his career with an A’s affiliate in 2003.