The star witness in Yasiel Puig’s gambling scandal trial testified on Thursday that the former Dodgers star bet thousands of dollars on tennis matches involving Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic back in 2019.
Donny Kadokawa was called to the stand in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom for the second time this week as prosecutors continued to try to prove Puig is guilty of federal crimes.
Kadokawa — a former Puig associate who alleged earlier in the week he was the go-between for the ex-outfielder and infamous bookie Wayne Nix — claimed some of the wagers he knew Puig placed included $10,000 ones on Williams and Djokovic matchups.
Kadokawa then testified that following disputes over bets, Puig was cut off from Nix’s illegal gambling operation by the end of September 2019. But, he stated that when he and Puig crossed paths again in 2022, Puig asked him to place another bet.
Kadokawa, though, said he told Puig “f—k no.”
Puig was in the courtroom for the testimony wearing a black turtleneck, grey jacket and gold watch. He had a stack of bright orange Post-it notes in front of him as well as a stress ball that he picked up occasionally.
Federal prosecutors have accused Puig of placing nearly 1,000 illegal bets in 2019 and then lying about it to investigators in 2022.
The 35-year-old has been charged with one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements. The first charge carries a maximum of 10 years of prison time if convicted, while the other two carry potential five-year prison sentences.
Puig took a deal with prosecutors in 2022 to close out the case and avoid time behind bars, agreeing to plead guilty to lying to federal investigators.
He, however, backed out of the pact weeks later, saying in a statement that he wanted to clear his name.
“I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit,” he said.
Puig’s trial is expected to last into next week. His agent, Lisette Carnet, told The Post on Wednesday she anticipated prosecutors would try to use a witness like Kadokawa to paint Puig “as this very savvy gambler.” But she claimed in reality, it was Kadokawa who was the one taking advantage of Puig.
Puig played for the Dodgers from 2013 to 2018. He finished his MLB career with the Reds and Cleveland. He went on to play professionally in South Korea and the Mexican League.
