Overview

• Mathew Bowyer, 50, who pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return, is scheduled to be sentenced Friday in federal court in Santa Ana, California.
• Federal prosecutors credit Bowyer with “significant, timely, and credible” assistance and are asking for 15 months in prison, while his attorney urges no prison time.
• Authorities say Bowyer operated for at least five years with more than 700 bettors, including Ippei Mizuhara, whose wagers produced about $41 million in net losses and included funds stolen from Shohei Ohtani.
• Investigators have identified Ohtani as a victim in the case; in pre-sentencing interviews Bowyer speculated that Ohtani may have been aware of Mizuhara’s gambling, though he maintains Ohtani did not place bets and has offered no corroborating evidence.
• Court filings note Bowyer has repaid $1.6 million in taxes and sought treatment for gambling, and the probe spurred a $10.5 million fine against Resorts World Las Vegas by Nevada regulators.