The bookie at the center of an illegal gambling operation involving the former interpreter of MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to three federal charges.
According to U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada from the Central District of California, Matthew Bowyer has agreed to plead guilty on Aug. 9 to operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering and subscribing to a false tax return for his role in the gambling scheme that led Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, to steal at least $16 million from the Los Angeles Dodger to cover illegal gambling losses owed to Bowyer.
The 49-year-old Orange County resident was implicated in the case after his home was raided in October 2023 by federal authorities after bank statements from Ohtani’s account showed at least two $500,000 payments marked as loans sent to Bowyer. Mizuhara allegedly stole the money from Ohtani’s account by changing alert and confirmation settings. Mizuhara placed roughly 19,000 wagers with Bowyer and accumulated $40 million in losses with the operation in nearly three years with an average wager of $12,800.
According to a complaint, Mizuhara notified Bowyer of his misuse of Ohtani’s money. Bowyer then turned a blind eye to Mizuhara’s stealing due to payments being periodically made. Bowyer even notified Mizuhara that he nearly approached Ohtani in person after seeing him walk his dog in Newport Beach, California after failing to return his calls.
Bowyer’s operation reaches casinos
Bowyer siphoned some of the funds from his illegal operation to Resorts World Casino in Las Vegas. The casino allegedly saw money funneled by Bowyer through a “marker account.” Bowyer used money from the account to withdraw chips to gamble with.
Scott Sibella served as president of Resorts World at the time Bowyer siphoned funds but abruptly stepped down. He has since pleaded guilty to illegal gambling charges for a different incident involving the MGM Grand and is set to be sentenced next month.
Between June 2022 and October 2023, Bowyer reportedly lost $7.9 million at casinos. According to prosecutors, he owes $1.6 million in unpaid taxes from 2022 for his operation.
Bowyer allegedly operated the unregulated gambling scheme for at least five years and had a portfolio of more than 700 clients that used his services to illegally gamble. Bowyer also allegedly accepted bets from Atlanta Braves minor league player David Fletcher.
Bowyer faces up to 10 years in prison for his money laundering charge, up to five years for operating an unlawful gambling business and up to three years for the faulty tax return.
In 2022, Bowyer reported $607,897 in income but failed to report an additional $4 million from his illegal operation.
Mizuhara has also pled guilty to federal bank and tax charges for his role in the scheme after hiring former federal prosecutor Michael Freedman as representation. The former interpreter has a sentencing hearing set for Oct. 25. He faces up to 33 years in prison.
There has been no evidence that details Mizuhara wagering on amateur or pro baseball.
