California bookie pleads guilty to running illegal gambling business used by ex-Ohtani interpreter
A Southern California bookmaker who took thousands of sports bets from the former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani has pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business
By AMY TAXIN and STEFANIE DAZIO
Published - Aug 09, 2024, 06:43 PM ET
Last Updated - Aug 09, 2024, 06:43 PM EDT
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California bookmaker who took thousands of sports bets from the former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty Friday to running an illegal gambling business.
Mathew Bowyer, 49, entered the plea in federal court in Santa Ana. He also pleaded guilty to money laundering and subscribing to a false tax return. He's due to be sentenced Feb. 7.
“I was running an illegal gambling operation, laundering money through other people’s bank accounts,” Bowyer told the judge.
Federal prosecutors declined to comment after the hearing.
