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Matthew Bowyer has agreed to plead guilty to running an illegal gambling business. The Southern California bookmaker is set to face the court on August 9, following a recent report from the Associated Press.
US authorities announced that Bowyer accepted thousands of wagers from nearly 700 clients. Among them was Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani. Sports betting is currently illegal in California.
The US Attorney’s office in Los Angeles released a statement confirming Bowyer’s charges. He will plead guilty to money laundering, filing a false tax return, and operating an illegal gambling business. Bowyer’s attorney, Diane Bass, stated, “Mr. Bowyer is looking forward to accepting responsibility for his actions.”
Ippei Mizuhara recently pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud. Mizuhara opened a bank account for Ohtani in 2018. Shortly after, he began embezzling funds. His winnings from illegal bets totaled over $142 million, with losses reaching $183 million. None of these bets were on baseball.
As part of his plea agreement, Mizuhara will repay both Ohtani and the IRS. Ohtani is set to receive $17 million, while the IRS will get $1 million. However, these amounts could change during sentencing.
Bowyer’s illegal gambling operations highlight the ongoing issue of unregulated sports betting in California. His plea deal comes as authorities crack down on illegal gambling networks.