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Matt Bowyer, who made headlines as the bookie for one time Japanese-language interpreter and de facto manager of MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani, has been released from prison early after serving less than six months behind bars.
Bowyer had been facing up to 18 years. He was released on Monday, having served nearly five months behind bars.
Bowyer reported to a halfway home in San Pedro, California, according to a filing from the US Bureau of Prisons. The facility is located about 50 miles north of his residence in Orange County.
The 50-year-old from San Juan Capistrano, California agreed to plead guilty last summer to a three-count information charging him with operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering, and subscribing to a false tax return.
Bowyer's attorney, Diane Bass, argued that her client had no prior legal trouble and expressed a willingness to cooperate in this matter. She described her client as a “gambling addict” who “has faced his demons" and is seeking house arrest as well as time served.
“We should not measure justice by the number of calendar pages that turn,” Bass wrote. “Instead, we should look at how hard a person works to reconcile with society, make amends, and prepare to live as a law-biding citizen.
“Most striking, is the love and support Mr. Bowyer has continued to receive throughout this process,” Bass wrote of her client’s letters of support. “He has the undying love of his family and so many friends who support him and are there for him with whatever he needs.”
Bowyer admitted to wrongdoing.
“I was running a big operation,” Bowyer has previously stated. “I knew the risks. I have to be a man and deal with it.”
According to his plea agreement, Bowyer operated an unlicensed and illegal bookmaking business that focused on sports betting and violated a California law that prohibits bookmaking. Bowyer’s gambling business remained in operation for at least five years until October 2023 and at times had more than 700 bettors.
He operated this business out of various locations in Los Angeles and Orange counties as well as in Las Vegas. Bowyer also employed agents and sub-agents – including casino hosts – who worked for his illegal gambling business who were paid a portion of the losses that bettors incurred and paid. His unlawful business used several Costa Rica-based websites and a call center so agents and customers could place and track bets. At times, Bowyer operated his illegal business while gambling at a casino – identified in court documents as “Casino A” – and sometimes paid his agents commission in Casino A chips.
One of Bowyer’s clients was Ippei Mizuhara, who pleaded guilty on June 4 to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return.
Other clients in his gambling business included a professional player for a Southern California-based baseball team and a former minor-league baseball player.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
