Mathew Bowyer, the California man who ran an illegal sports betting operation and took wagers from Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter, agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges Thursday.
Bowyer, who resides in Orange County, agreed to plead guilty to charges including operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering and subscribing to a false tax return.
According to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California, Bowyer is expected to officially plead guilty on Aug. 9.
Ippei Mizuhara, one of Bowyer’s clients, pleaded guilty to stealing $17 million from Ohtani’s bank account to pay off sports betting debts owed to the 49-year-old man.
Bowyer’s potential prison sentence
Bowyer faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for money laundering, the release said.
He also faces up to five years for running an unlawful gambling business, and up to three years for subscribing to a false tax return.
As part of his plea deal, Bowyer will forfeit $257,923 in US currency, and $14,830 in casino chips, which were seized by law enforcement in October 2023. He will also fully cooperate with federal authorities.
Bookie’s sports betting operation
Bowyer’s illegal gambling business was operational for at least five years, until October 2023.
It contained more than 700 bettors, the release said.
Mizuhara placed at least 19,000 wagers with Bowyer’s illegal bookmaking operation from September 2021 to January 2024.
Mizuhara’s sports betting history
Over that span, Mizuhara totaled $40,678,436 in betting losses, while Bowyer was regularly increasing the ex-interpreter’s limits.
Bowyer directed Mizuhara to pay at least $16.25 million to a bank account that contained funds from his illegal operation. Mizuhara has a sentencing hearing slated for Oct. 25, while authorities have cleared Ohtani and consider him a victim.
Bowyer then transferred at least $9.3 million to a casino as payment for markers for Bowyer and his associates.
