A Southern California bookmaker has pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business used by the former interpreter for Japanese MLB star Ohtani Shohei.
Mathew Bowyer entered the plea at a court near Los Angeles on Friday. He admitted to running an illegal gambling operation and laundering money through other people’s bank accounts.
Prosecutors say Bowyer ran the gambling business for at least five years, and took wagers from more than 700 bettors at one time, including Ohtani’s former interpreter Mizuhara Ippei.
Bowyer’s lawyer told reporters outside the court, “Bowyer is very relieved to finally be able to accept responsibility for his conduct.”
He is due to be sentenced in February.
In June, Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud, admitting to stealing nearly 17 million dollars from Ohtani’s bank account to pay off his gambling debts.
Mizuhara is scheduled to be sentenced in October.