Former Major League Baseball outfielder Yasiel Puig did not have an attorney present during an interview with federal agents investigating an illegal gambling operation, his agent said in a statement released on Tuesday.
The agent went on to note that Puig did not have a criminal attorney present because he felt compromised due to his mental health issues.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the 31-year-old is expected to plead guilty to lying at that interview.
"The government’s indictment arises out of a single interview he gave back in January via Zoom," said Puig's agent, Lisette Carnet of Leona Sports Agency.
Court documents revealed that Puig has agreed to plead guilty to one count of making false statements and pay of fine of no less than $55,000. The Cuban-born baseball player could face up to five years in federal prison.
"He came to the interview feeling rushed, unprepared, without criminal counsel with him, and also lacked his own interpreter. 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 benefited from this care at the time of the interview," Carnet said.
Carnet mentioned that Puig's lawyer, Keri Axel, has also clarified that under the sentencing guidelines, he is eligible for probation.
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