Prosecutors Want Shorter Jail Time for Bookie in Ohtani Betting Case

Federal prosecutors have asked for a 15-month jail term for California bookie Matt Bowyer, who played a part in a big betting ring tied to Shohei Ohtani’s former translator. This case has caught the eye of the whole country. Their request is way less than what federal rules usually suggest, which could have put him behind bars for over three years.

Feds Seek Leniency for Bowyer After He Helped Secure Mizuhara and LeForbes Convictions

Bowyer, 50, owned up last year to operating an illegal sports betting business, laundering money through Las Vegas casinos, and submitting a false tax return. Court papers filed in US District Court in Santa Ana show he did not report over $4 million in taxable income in one year. The government claimed, though, that his help in connected cases calls for a lighter sentence.

Prosecutors acknowledged Bowyer for supplying key details that helped investigators secure convictions of Ohtani’s ex-interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, and fellow bookmaker Damien LeForbes.

. Court papers describe Bowyer’s help as “important well-timed, and believable,” noting interviews in late 2023 and early 2024 that let agents understand seized messages and carry out a search warrant on LeForbes.

Mizuhara is doing a 57-month stint for taking $17 million from Ohtani to pay off his gambling debts. LeForbes, who bet almost $150 million at Las Vegas casinos, has admitted guilt to money laundering and running an illegal gambling operation and will be sentenced later this year.

Bowyer Says He Only Exposed Casino Executives, Not Friends

In a recent interview, Bowyer admitted that working with authorities made him look like a “rat”, reported The Nevada Current. He stressed, though, that his deal with prosecutors covered information about casino bosses and staff who helped with shady deals. High-roller and government snitch Robert “RJ” Cipriani backed up Bowyer’s story. He said Bowyer told him he would not rat out his players or buddies, just casino insiders.

Lawyer Diane Bass has asked the court to think about Bowyer’s clean record and his attempts to get better. She paints her client as a guy hooked on gambling who is trying to change his ways, with help from family and friends. Bowyer himself says he owns up to what he did. He adds that he wants to move on from this case.

The proposed sentence comes after Las Vegas Strip casinos that dealt with Bowyer’s gambling faced big fines. MGM Resorts will pay over $15 million, while Resorts World Las Vegas must give $10.5 million to Nevada officials.

Some say it is unfair that bookies and gamblers might go to jail, but casino bosses involved have not faced the same trouble. Judge John W. Holcomb, who already sentenced Mizuhara, will choose Bowyer‘s punishment soon. While prosecutors want a 15-month sentence, the judge has the final say.