Guilty Plea by Bookmaker in Shohei Ohtani Interpreter Betting Scandal
Mathew Bowyer Will Plead Guilty to Multiple Charges
The sports bookmaker tied to Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, will plead guilty to multiple charges. The Ohtani’s interpreter gambling scandal has drawn significant attention.
Mathew Bowyer, 49, of Orange County, CA, agreed to plead guilty to operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return. The actual plea hearing is set for August 9.
The business operated for at least five years in Southern California and Las Vegas, taking wagers from over 700 bettors, including Ohtani’s former interpreter, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles said in a statement.
Bookmaker who took action from ex-Ohtani interpreter, to plead guilty
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Bookmaker Bowyer Faces Charges
Bowyer was the bookmaker in question when Mizuhara racked up millions and millions of dollars in losses betting sports events. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to stealing $17 million from Ohtani’s bank account in June, further highlighting the Ohtani’s interpreter gambling scandal.
“Mr. Bowyer is looking forward to accepting responsibility for his actions” Diane Bass, Bowyer’s attorney, said in a statement Thursday to ESPN.
NBCLA reported on the plea, too.
…, Bowyer admitted to falsely reporting his taxable income to the IRS on his tax return for the year 2022. That year’s tax return showed about $607,897 in total income. His unreported income for that year was $4,030,938, which federal authorities said was income from his illegal gambling business. That included $3.8 million in wire transfers into one of his bank accounts, which he did not declare on his tax return.
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Bowyer owes additional taxes of $1,613,280 for the tax year 2022, not including interest and penalties, prosecutors said.
He faces a maximum of 10 years for money laundering, up to five years for unlawful gambling, and up to three years for a false tax return.
MLB cleared Dodgers slugger Ohtani of any wrongdoing in the case. Their own investigations into Ohtani’s interpreter gambling scandal confirmed this.
