Overview

• Mathew Bowyer is due in federal court in Santa Ana on Friday for sentencing after pleading guilty to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return.
• Federal prosecutors are asking for 15 months in prison, citing Bowyer’s significant, timely, and credible assistance in multiple cases, while his attorney urges no prison time.
• Investigators say Bowyer’s operation handled hundreds of millions in wagers, including bets from Ippei Mizuhara, whose net losses approached $41 million and who is serving nearly five years for bank and tax fraud tied to roughly $17 million stolen from Shohei Ohtani.
• Authorities have characterized Ohtani as a victim and not a bettor, though Bowyer told a media outlet on August 28 that he believes Ohtani was aware of Mizuhara’s gambling and use of funds, a claim presented without corroborating evidence.
• In a separate development reported this month, a civil lawsuit tied to a $240 million Hawaii housing project names Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo, marking an additional off-field legal dispute.