SANTA ANA, Calif.
An Orange County man was sentenced Thursday to one year and a day in federal prison for running a multimillion-dollar illegal sports-betting ring and committing tax fraud, according to federal officials.
Mathew R. Bowyer, 50, of San Juan Capistrano, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return.
U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb also ordered Bowyer to pay $1.6 million in restitution and forfeit more than $270,000 in cash and casino chips.
Prosecutors said Bowyer’s bookmaking business operated for at least five years in California and Las Vegas, handling bets from more than 700 customers, including professional athletes.
He relied on Costa Rica-based websites and a call center to manage wagers, paying agents in casino chips.
Among his clients was Ippei Mizuhara, a former interpreter for MLB star Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara, serving 57 months in prison, admitted stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani to cover gambling debts, most of which were tied to Bowyer’s operation.
Bowyer failed to report millions in gambling profits, falsely claiming $607,897 in income in 2022 while concealing $4 million.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations.