The illegal bookie who took bets from Shohei Ohtanis ex-interpreter was sentenced to just over a year in prison on Friday. a prison sentence of 12 months and one day after pleading guilty in August 2024 to running an illegal gambling busine s, money laundering, and filing a false tax return. U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb also ordered Bowyer, 50, to attend gambling addiction counseling. Mathew Bowyer talks to his attorney outside federal court, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Santa Ana, Calif., following his sentencing to 12 months and one day in prison. AP Holcomb tax return crime is significant and needs to be taken into account and added that justice demands there be some custody time. Prior to Bowyers sentencing, prosecutors said in a court filing that they went with a lighter sentence for Bowyer because of his a sistance , Ohtanis former interpreter, along with another bookie. Explore More Bowyers attorney, Diane Ba s, initially asked Judge Holcomb to give him house arrest, citing his gambling addiction recovery and that he did Lazaro Armenteros Jersey not know Mizuhara was taking from Ohtani. He did not think he was taking advantage of anyone, Ba s said. We didnt know it was going to be a high-profile case then all of a sudden there is this huge media interest. Shohei Ohtani poses for a photo with his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara (R) and agent Nez Balelo (L) after being introduced by the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on December 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images However, a sistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Williams pointed out Bowyers interactions with the media, where he talked about Mizuhara, saying that his case was not simply about an addict who got into trouble. Hes going out and talking to news media, talking about Mr. Mizuhara, the busine s he was in, there is a certain amount of notoriety that he is enjoying, Williams said in court. According to court filings, Bowyer had over 700 clients and first met Mizuhara back in 2021 in San Diego. Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani works against a Cincinnati Reds batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. AP Between December 2021 and January 2024, Mizuhara placed at least 19,000 bets, losing almost $41 million and stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani to pay off debts. , Bowyer said that it took him just a month to realize that Mizuhara was a problem gambler, citing how often and the types of bets he was placing. He definitely was betting all night long, all the time, Bowyer told the outlet. Ive never seen anything like it. $100,000 on a draw, Ukraine vs. Turkey. $100,000 on Saudi Arabia. Mizuhara is serving a 57-month sentence after pleading guilty earlier this year. Blake Beers Jersey