Sources: Deal reached to accelerate the timing of bookie Matt Bowyer’s sentencing

California bookmaker who accepted approximately $325 million in wagers from Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter may learn his fate next month.

Nearly a year to the day after Matt Bowyer pleaded guilty to federal money laundering charges, one of the nation’s largest bookmakers will likely return to the same courthouse for the final chapter in the remarkable sports betting case.

Bowyer, an infamous bookie who handled millions in wagers from baseball star Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter, will now likely be sentenced late next month, iGB has learned. Attorneys for Bowyer have reached an agreement with the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California to accelerate the timing for the hearing, multiple sources told iGB. For months, Bowyer was prepared for an October sentencing date after prosecutors delayed the hearing on two prior occasions.

Last August, Bowyer pleaded guilty to three federal charges including running an illegal gambling operation. The plea agreement also contained charges of transactional money laundering and tax evasion. If convicted at trial, Bowyer had faced up to 18 years in prison

An exact sentencing date could be set next week, according to the sources. A spokesman for the US Attorney’s Office declined to comment on Tuesday.

Sentencing guidelines

By nearly every account, Bowyer has been one of the nation’s largest illegal bookmakers. At the zenith of his operations, he maintained more than 700 clients with bettors spanning both coasts. Prosecutors issued a complaint against Bowyer last July, weeks after Ippei Mizuhara pleaded guilty to charges of bank and tax fraud.

Mizuhara embezzled approximately $17 million from Ohtani, a three-time MLB MVP. While Mizuhara repaid Bowyer for a portion of his gambling losses, the interpreter still owes roughly $23 million in outstanding debt. Those debts will likely never be repaid.

Bowyer appeared outside the Ronald Reagan Federal Building last summer for a short press briefing. Following Bowyer’s plea, his attorney Diane Bass provided some insight as to his expected sentence.

Matt Bowyer – the bookie for Ippei Mizuhara (Ohtani’s former interpreter) – just pleaded guilty to three charges in a federal court today. To read details of the case against him (and Mizuhara) and how he got here, read our full report here: https://t.co/cKUD0fNVor pic.twitter.com/5ebUTCy1Jv

— Tisha Thompson (@TishaESPN) August 9, 2024

At the time, Bass noted that Bowyer’s sentence could have been reduced based on potential cooperation with prosecutors. Such cooperation may have placed the sentencing in a range of 30 to 37 months, she said. The new agreement may result in a slightly higher range, according to sources.

“Mr Bowyer is very relieved to finally accept responsibility for his conduct,” Bass told the reporters a year ago. “He is looking forward to receiving his sentence so he can put this chapter behind him.”

When contacted by iGB Monday, Bowyer said: “I was running a big operation, I knew the risks. I have to be a man and deal with it.”

Hard Rock allegations

Throughout Southern California, the environment for illegal sports betting is rife with bookmakers, agents and sub bookies under the age of 50. Unlike many, Bowyer has familial responsibilities with several kids and a wife to care for.

“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.”

The latest news comes one day after the New York Post reported that Hard Rock International has suspended executive Alex Pariente amid allegations of potential anti-money laundering violations at the Hard Rock Punta Cana casino. Bowyer gambled at the Dominican resort on occasion, multiple sources told iGB.

Vegas connections

The driving force for the deal with prosecutors is not immediately clear. In March, the Nevada Gaming Commission approved a $10.5 million fine against Resorts World Las Vegas to settle a slew of regulatory violations. The penalty stemmed from a bevy of anti-money laundering infractions, involving multiple bookmakers. RWLV did not accept any wrongdoing in the settlement.

Over a period of about 15 months, Bowyer gambled at the casino on 80 separate occasions, according to the complaint in that case. During the span, he lost more than $7.9 million at the multi-billion resort on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, the filings show. According to Bowyer’s plea agreement, he also directed the transfer of at least $9.34 million to “Casino A”, a casino widely presumed to be RWLV, ESPN reported.

Mathew Bowyer, an alleged illegal bookmaker who accepted millions of dollars in bets from the former interpreter for baseball player Shohei Ohtani, gambled at the resort and never filed any documentation about the source of the funds. https://t.co/DSnM7QbnKN

— Nicki Kenyon (@IreneKenyon4) August 16, 2024

Although Bowyer made a living as an illegal bookmaker, one member of the casino’s AML committee removed language pertaining to his occupation that concealed his source of funds, regulatory filings indicate.

Bowyer also has connections to the MGM Grand, another large casino on the other end of the Strip. During a four-year period through 2018, Bowyer wagered at MGM subsidiary properties at least 300 times, according to another regulatory complaint. The MGM Grand banned him later that year.

Next steps

Weeks after the RWLV settlement, Nevada regulators approved a separate settlement with MGM Resorts for $8.5 million. That settlement relates to AML violations regarding Wayne Nix, another illegal bookmaker who gambled at the MGM Grand. In January 2024, the MGM Grand and the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas agreed to pay $7.5 million in combined fines as part of a non-prosecutorial agreement with the Justice Department.

While MGM and Wynn Las Vegas have signed NPAs with the Justice Department to resolve AML matters, Resorts World Las Vegas has not reached a settlement on the federal level.

Despite the Nevada settlement, there are no indications that Malaysian-based Genting will resolve the federal investigation anytime soon.

Damien Leforbes, another bookie implicated in the Resorts World scandal, is awaiting sentencing on federal money laundering charges. Prosecutors delayed Leforbes’ sentencing hearing last month.

Bowyer attended Sunday’s Angels-Diamondbacks’ game in Anaheim, the Angels’ final game before the All-Star break. It marked the first time Bowyer had returned to an MLB ballpark since the scandal broke. Ohtani is scheduled to lead off for the National League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.