Orange County man in illegal gambling case sentenced to probation, forfeiture

An Orange County man was sentenced Thursday to six months probation and ordered to forfeit $3 million for helping run an illegal bookmaking business that allegedly ensnared ex-Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig.

Edon Kagasoff, 45, of Lake Forest, pleaded guilty last year to a federal charge of conspiring to run the gambling operation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The business was begun about 10 years ago by Wayne Nix, 46, a former minor league pitcher who lives in Newport Coast. Nix pleaded guilty in April 2022 to conspiracy to operate an illegal sports gambling business and filing a false tax return. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 20.

Puig, 32, who most recently played professional baseball in South Korea, faces trial in January in downtown Los Angeles on one federal count each of making false statements and obstruction of justice.

Prosecutors allege that Puig began placing bets on sporting events in May 2019 through a third party. Bets were funneled to Sand Island Sports, a Costa Rica-based online sportsbook, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Erik Hiljus, a former MLB pitcher from the San Fernando Valley who worked as an agent for Nix’s business, was sentenced in April to three months’ home detention for filing false tax returns.

Hiljus, 50, of Panorama City, was also ordered to pay $194,701 in fines and restitution. He pleaded guilty last December in Los Angeles federal court to two counts of filing false tax returns.

Hiljus made his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers in 1999, but pitched more often for the Oakland Athletics in 2001 and 2002, ending his career for an A’s affiliate in 2003.