California Bookmaker'S Gamble Ends In Prison Time

California's Bookie Behind Bars

Life isn't all sunshine and palm trees for one California man, who's traded the SoCal sun for a prison cell. Mathew R. Bowyer, 50, hailing from the picturesque San Juan Capistrano, received a 12-month and one-day federal prison sentence. His crime? Running a colossal illegal sports betting scheme that ensnared professional athletes and even connected him to Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter.

Bowyer's hefty tab doesn't stop at the prison gates. He's also been ordered to pay $1,613,280 in restitution. Pleading guilty in August 2024, Bowyer faced charges of operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return.

"This multi-year operation raked in millions of dollars through the exploitation of people [Bowyer] recognized were addicted," prosecutors stated, painting a gritty picture of the betting underworld.

A Gambling Empire Unveiled

For over five years, Bowyer's betting empire flourished across Los Angeles, Orange counties, and even the glittering Las Vegas Strip. Utilizing Costa Rica-based websites and a call center, Bowyer's operation reportedly catered to over 700 bettors at its peak.

The court documents reveal that Bowyer's business model thrived on the losses of his clients, employing agents and sub-agents to keep the money flowing. Among the notable figures entrapped in this web was Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for MLB star Shohei Ohtani, who himself fell prey to the allure of Bowyer's books.

High-Profile Clients and High Stakes

Mizuhara's association with Bowyer's betting business was anything but minor league. Serving a 57-month sentence for embezzling nearly $17 million from Ohtani to cover his gambling debts, Mizuhara placed a staggering 19,000 bets, losing a jaw-dropping $40.6 million from September 2021 to January 2024 alone.

Further court documents hint at other notable clients, including a professional baseball player from a Southern California team, and a past minor-league player – all caught in Bowyer's betting net.

The IRS Comes Knocking

On top of his gambling woes, Bowyer also faces significant IRS scrutiny. In 2022, he claimed an income of $607,897, while his unreported gambling business profits topped $4 million. This discrepancy has left him with a hefty $1.6 million tax bill.

Complying with his plea deal, Bowyer will hand over more than $257,000 in cash and $14,830 in casino chips seized during the investigation. This case was cracked open through the joint efforts of IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations, shining a spotlight on the shadowy world of illegal gambling.

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