California Bookie Expected To Serve 30 to 37 Months Behind Bars

Posted on: August 10, 2024, 11:46h. 

Last updated on: August 10, 2024, 11:46h.

Bookmaker Mathew Bowyer is facing a prison sentence of between 30 to 37 months following Friday’s guilty pleas to gambling-related charges, according to his attorney.

Bowyer, 49, of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., admitted to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and subscribing to a false tax return.

He will return to Santa Ana, Calif. federal court on Feb. 7 to hear his exact sentence.

Accepts Responsibility

“I was running an illegal gambling operation, laundering money through other people’s bank accounts,” Bowyer admitted in court on Friday.

His lawyer, Diane Bass, told reporters he’s “very relieved to finally be able to accept responsibility for his conduct.”

He is looking forward to his sentence so that he can put this chapter behind him and so he and his family can get on with their lives,” Bass was quoted by CBS News.

Bowyer also will forfeit $257,923 in cash and $14,830 in casino chips under the expected plea deal.

In his 2022 tax return, Bowyer reported $607,897 in income. His unreported income was $4,030,938, prosecutors said.

Bowyer ran an illegal gambling operation between 2018 and 2023 that serviced more than 700 clients. The business was based in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Orange County, Calif. Costa Rican-based websites were used, too.

Bowyer operated the business while gambling at a casino and sometimes paid agents with casino chips.

He reportedly “transferred or directed the transfer” of at least $9.3M to Resorts World Las Vegas, according to ESPN. He also reportedly lost at least $4M at the gaming property.

Linked to Ippei Mizuhara

Among Bowyer’s customers were pro athletes, and Ippei Mizuhara, the man who translated for MLB Los Angeles Dodgers star player Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara stole some $17M from Ohtani to pay off massive gambling debts.

Mizuhara pleaded guilty on June 4 to bank fraud and subscribing to a false tax return. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 25.

Between 2021 and 2024, Mizuhara placed at least 19K bets with Bowyer’s gambling operation. Mizuhara’s winning bets were about $142,256,769 and losing bets were about $182,935,206.

Ohtani was a victim in the crime and wasn’t charged.

Resorts World has continued to work with investigators in the case.

“We are aware of the press release from the DOJ about Mathew R. Bowyer pleading guilty to federal charges,” a Resorts World Las Vegas spokesperson recently told ESPN. “We are cooperating with their ongoing investigation, and we do not comment on pending legal matters.”