California Bookmaker Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges, Sentencing Set for February

Mathew Bowyer, who operated an illegal bookmaking business in California for over five years, has pleaded guilty to three federal charges. The plea was entered on Friday, August 9, at the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Santa Ana, California. It was not a surprise since a week earlier the plea deal was made public.

Bowyer, who handled bets from more than 700 customers, including former Shohei Ohtani interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, admitted to running the illicit operation. Mizuhara, who admitted to stealing $17 million from Ohtani to fund his gambling, was one of Bowyer’s notable clients. “I was running an illegal gambling operation, laundering money through other people’s bank accounts,” Bowyer confessed to Judge John W. Holcomb during the hearing.

The sentencing for Bowyer is scheduled for February 7, 2025. He could face up to 18 years in prison, along with three years of probation. Additionally, Bowyer may be fined $750,000 or twice the amount of financial gain or loss related to the crimes—whichever figure is higher.

Federal authorities initiated a thorough investigation into Bowyer’s activities last year. This probe led to the charges of running an illegal sportsbook, money laundering, and filing a false tax return. These offenses carry heavy penalties due to the illegal nature of sports betting in California and the involvement of financial crimes.

Bowyer is not the first person implicated in this Southern California sports betting scandal. Wayne Nix, a key figure in the case, was charged in 2022. Nix was originally set to be sentenced in March of this year, but his sentencing has been rescheduled for September 25, 2024.