Ohtani Interpreter’s Bookie Matt Bowyer Set For Sentencing Next Month

Illegal bookie Matt Bowyer is set for sentencing in August after his attorneys made a deal with federal prosecutors.

Bowyer pleaded guilty to three federal charges last year: operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and tax evasion. 

Following the revelations that Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, had embezzled funds from the three-time MLB MVP to gamble with Bowyer, the bookie faced a complaint by prosecutors. 

Mizuhara was sentenced to 57 months in prison earlier this year for stealing $17 million from Ohtani to fund his gambling habit. He reportedly still owes Bowyer a further $23 million, which will likely never be paid back, but has been ordered to return the $17 million to Ohtani. 

Bowyer Resigned To Lengthy Prison Sentence

Bowyer was scheduled for sentencing in October, but his attorneys have expedited the process, and a sentencing date could be set as early as next week. 

Had Bowyer cooperated more fully with prosecutors when first arrested in October 2023, he could have been given a reduced sentence of between 30 and 37 months, said attorney Diane Bass. The California resident now faces a slightly longer prison sentence.

Upon pleading guilty to the charges last year, Bass commented, “Mr Bowyer is very relieved to finally accept responsibility for his conduct. He is looking forward to receiving his sentence so he can put this chapter behind him.”

Speaking to iGamingBusiness this week, the father of five admitted he has to deal with the consequences of running the illegal operation. 

“I was running a big operation, I knew the risks. I have to be a man and deal with it,” he said. 

He admitted being away from his five children will be the hardest part.

“Nobody wants to go to prison, I don’t care what anyone tells you,” he said. 

“The reality is as a father of five and a very proud husband, knowing that my four-year-old boy and 14-year-old daughter won’t be able to see me will be the tough part.”

Vegas Casinos Also Implicated In Bowyer Case

One of Bowyer’s charges is for money laundering, which was aided by casinos in Las Vegas. Resorts World Las Vegas was fined $10.5 million, the second-largest penalty ever imposed in Nevada’s gaming history, for allowing Bowyer as well as other illegal bookies to gamble on the premises. 

The casino not only allowed Bowyer to launder his money, but also hired Bowyer’s wife, Nicole, to be his personal host. Nicole Bowyer received commission payments of $165,000 in 2022 and around $501,000 in 2023 for her husband’s gambling.

In January this year, she faced an investigation by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and later agreed to a five-year ban for her independent agent license, which allowed her to work in casinos as a personal host. 

Her defence was that she was a pawn in her husband’s illegal activity, and had no knowledge of anti-money laundering protocol. However, she has continued to support her husband through his trial. 

In addition to Resorts World, MGM Resorts were also issued an $8.5 million fine for allowing Bowyer, and fellow illegal bookie Wayne Nix, to gamble at the MGM Grand. 

While awaiting sentencing, Bowyer was spotted attending Sunday’s Angels-Diamondbacks’ game in Anaheim, the Angels’ final game before the All-Star break. Ohtani is scheduled to lead off for the National League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

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