Latest surprise
The illegal betting scandal involving MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani has taken many twists and turns since it first came to light in March. With the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara set to plead guilty to stealing almost $17m from his former boss to pay his gambling debts, ESPN reported on Wednesday that he sent the money to a reality television star.
was not named in the case’s criminal complaint
The illegal bookmaker who was accepting bets from the interpreter told him to wire the funds to an associate, who turned out to be a current cast member of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” television show, Ryan Boyajian. He was not named in the case’s criminal complaint and the pair have worked together on real estate projects, developing a friendship over almost two decades.
Taking the stand
Boyajian’s criminal attorney told ESPN that his client couldn’t comment on anything due to the ongoing investigation, just saying that he is currently “working with the authorities” and emphasizing that he was “not a bookmaker or a sub-bookie.”
Multiple ESPN sources claim that the reality television star will provide testimony in exchange for immunity. Mizuhara’s arraignment will take place on Tuesday; the 39-year-old faces up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud and an additional three-year term for filing a false tax return.
Laundering the funds
The illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer and his friend Boyajian reportedly often went to Las Vegas Strip casinos to gamble, most frequently Resorts World Las Vegas, and would receive comps in return for their business.
When Boyajian got the money transfers from Mizuhara to cover his losses, he would wire the money to his marker accounts with the Pechanga Resort Casino in California and Resorts World Las Vegas. Boyajian and Bowyer would exchange the money for chips, cashing out any of the resulting gambling winnings to launder the proceeds.