Mathew Bowyer was addicted to the high stakes of gambling and the money that came with it even before he was old enough to play, the former bookmaker told NBC4 from his San Juan Capistrano home Tuesday.
“I was involved in sports gambling since I was twelve years old,” said Bowyer, who was scheduled to be sentenced at the Ronald Reagan federal courthouse in Santa Ana Friday.
“I was the CEO of a big corporation,” said Bowyer. “It was just illegal.”
Bowyer is the bookmaker at the center of a gambling scandal heard around the sports world involving Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of Dodger great Shohei Ohtani.
Bowyer pleaded guilty in August 2024 to filing a false tax return, money laundering and running an illegal gambling business. He said he has paid nearly $1.7 million in restitution and is cooperating with federal authorities after agents raided his home in October 2023.
Hetty Chang: “Do you regret meeting Ippei?
“I do because he’s in prison,” Bowyer said. “Even though we weren’t close friends, I hate to see someone in prison for 57 months – and ruining his life.”
Mizuhara is serving his sentence in a federal prison in Pennsylvania for stealing nearly $17 million from Shohei, money which federal prosecutors alleged went to Bowyer’s illegal bookmaking business.
Between 2021 and 2024, Ippei placed at least 19,000 sports bets with Bowyer totaling more than $300 million, according to Bowyer.
Federal prosecutors said from February 2022 to January 2024, Bowyer directed Mizuhara to make payments of at least $16.25 million to Bowyer-controlled bank accounts, all of which were proceeds of Bowyer’s illegal gambling business.”
Hetty Chang: “At any point, did you think to question whether this was Ippei’s money?”
“If you have a gentleman that’s paying you $500,000 every two weeks and seems to be very happy with the service and you’re making a lot of money and everyone seems very happy, I don’t need to know where he’s getting his money,” said Bowyer.
“That’s not my business.”
Federal prosecutors and Major League Baseball had both said they did not believe Ohtani was aware of Mizuhara’s gambling nor the money his former interpreter admitted to stealing.
Bowyer said he never met Shohei and said he also believes the Dodger Star was a victim.
“I do believe firmly Shohei did not make any sports bet or any wagers because I’ve been at Angels Stadium (and) he was actually playing baseball when bets were being made,” said Bowyer of one instance.
Bowyer said he’s anxious to serve his time and to move on with his life. He was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison and $1.6 million restitution, which Bowyer has already paid.
“I’m remorseful for what’s occurred,” said Bowyer. “I’m terrified for what I put my family through. Clearly, don’t want to go to federal prison, which is what I’m looking at probably in three to four weeks, turning myself in, leaving five kids behind along with my beautiful wife,” he said.
“Those are really things I want to get done and over with and move on to the next chapter,” said Bowyer.
Bowyer has self-published a book and the father of five said he’s now working on a documentary.
“The biggest regret I have is not choosing my strengths and mindsets to do something legal and not having to look over my shoulder,” said Bowyer.
“Living this high life is amazing, the lows and the costs to do that is not worth it.”