LOS ANGELES (CNS) – An Agoura Hills accountant pleaded guilty Tuesday, July 25, to lying to federal investigators about his role laundering proceeds of an illegal gambling operation that was orchestrated by a former minor-league baseball player and led to charges against former Dodger slugger Yasiel Puig.
William Eric Fulton, 59, pleaded guilty to a single count of making false statements, according to the US Attorney’s Office. He was scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 29, when he faces up to five years in prison. Under the terms of his plea deal, Fulton agreed to pay a fine of at least $673,290, prosecutors said.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, Fulton performed accounting work for Wayne Joseph Nix, 46, of Newport Coast, who orchestrated the gambling ring for nearly 20 years. Nix pleaded guilty last year to one count each of conspiracy to operate an illegal sports gambling business and filing a false tax return. His sentencing is scheduled for March 6, 2024.
Prosecutors said Fulton laundered proceeds from the gambling operation, transferring money between various accounts and sending checks or wiring money to gambling clients who won large bets. He also helped Nix obtain bank loans to fund the business, prosecutors said, noting that Fulton charged Nix more than $330,000 in fees for his services over a 10-year period.
Fulton also admitted to providing Nix with personal loans that total $1.25 million, giving Nix access to fast cash when he needed to pay his clients, prosecutors said. Fulton also placed bets with Nix, including three that involved one of Fulton’s sports-industry clients.
Prosecutors said that during an October 2021 interview, Fulton lied to investigators by claiming he had no knowledge of Nix’s involvement in sports gambling and denying that he had ever placed bets with him.
Nix’s longtime partner in the gambling operation, Edon Yoshida Kagasoff, 45, of Lake Forest, pleaded guilty in April 2022 to one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and was sentenced earlier this month to six months of probation and a $1,000 fine. He was also ordered to forfeit $3.1 million he earned through the operation.
Puig is facing charges of one federal count each of making false statements and obstruction of justice in connection with the case. He initially agreed to plead guilty in the case but later changed his mind. His trial is tentatively set for January.