Ohtani Interpreter Bookie to Plead Guilty to Illegal Gambling

Newly unsealed court documents from a California federal court show that Mathew Bowyer, a bookie for Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, agreed last month to plead guilty to charges for operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering and subscribing to a false tax return. 

The charges collectively carry a maximum prison sentence of 18 years, though Bowyer’s plea deal will ensure his penalty is much lighter, provided he complies with its terms. The plea deal requires Bowyer truthfully disclose all relevant evidence (including information related to his to clients and customers), assist in investigations led by the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Internal Revenue Service and other agencies, and, if necessary, testify against others. 

Bowyer, a resident of Orange County, ran afoul of the law in part because California is one of a dozen states where sports betting remains illegal. Bowyer’s indictment notes he made a wire transfer of $521,000 to a casino in Las Vegas in 2023, which prosecutors said was to further an unlawful activity. The plea deal describes Bowyer as advancing his business through making payments “in casino chips” and “cash in envelopes or bags.”

Bowyer also falsely reported to the IRS that his taxable income for the calendar year 2022 was $607,897. Bowyer “knew his taxable income for the year 2022 was substantially higher than that amount,” with the plea deal saying the real amount was “at least $4,587,954.”

The plea deal devotes considerable detail to Bowyer’s relationship with “I.M.”—Mizuhara—who is described as “a translator and de facto manager for a professional baseball player (“Individual A”),” with Individual A being Ohtani.

Between September 2021 and January 2024, Mizuhara placed “at least 19,000 bets” with Bowyer through assorted websites. Mizuhara won $142.3 million, an impressive figure until the plea deal also notes Mizuhara lost $182.9 million during that time, with a net loss of $40.7 million. Despite Mizuhara owing an astounding amount of money—especially for someone on a translator’s salary—Bowyer would regularly “bump” or increase Mizuhara’s betting limits.

Mizuhara, 39, made numerous payments to Bowyer, who directed at least $9.3 million of Mizuhara’s funds be moved to an unnamed casino for markers for Bowyer and his associates. Bowyer lost $4.2 million of that amount at the casino.

Last month, Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud and admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani. He’ll be sentenced on Oct. 25 and could face up to 33 years in prison.

According to federal prosecutors, Ohtani was a victim of Mizuhara, who exploited Ohtani’s wealth and limited English to perpetuate a massive fraud. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada has stated Mizuhara used “his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani” to “fuel” Mizuhara’s gambling habit.

Despite the off-field betting controversy, Ohtani, 30, is having another excellent season. Through July 31, the designated hitter was second in MLB behind New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in home runs (32) and slugging percentage (.628). Ohtani’s Dodgers are also in first place in the National League West.