THE ANGELS.- The operator of a Southern California business that received thousands of sports bets from the former interpreter of the Japanese star of the MLB, Shohei Ohtaniagreed to plead guilty in the case, U.S. authorities said Thursday.
Matthew Bowyer’s business operated for at least five years in Southern California and Las Vegas. Bowyer will now plead guilty to running an illegal gambling operation.
In total, the business received money from more than 700 gamblers, including Ippei Misihara, Ohtani’s former interpreter, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles said in a statement.
Bowyer is expected to plead guilty on Aug. 9. In addition to operating an illegal gambling business, he is expected to plead guilty to charges of money laundering and filing a false tax return, the statement said.
The case follows several sports betting scandals this year, including one that led Major League Baseball to impose a lifetime ban on Venezuelan Tucupita Marcano. He was the first member of the majors to face such a ban since 1989, when Pete Rose was punished.
More details
Bowyer’s attorney, Diane Bass, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. In March, she said she was working with federal prosecutors to resolve her client’s case and confirmed that a search of Bowyer’s home had taken place in October.
Bass told the AP that Mizuhara placed bets with Bowyer on international soccer matches, but not on baseball games.
Operating an unlicensed gambling business is a federal crime. Sports betting is illegal in California, though 38 states and the District of Columbia allow some variations.
Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud for stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani’s bank account.
Source: AP
