Matthew Bauer, the head of an illegal bookmaking operation in California that lasted for over five years, has pleaded guilty to three federal charges. During a hearing at the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Santa Ana, Bauer acknowledged his involvement in laundering money through the bank accounts of others as part of his gambling enterprise.
Local news sources have reported that Bauer served more than 700 clients, including Ippei Mizuhara, the former translator for Shohei Ohtani, who now faces up to 33 years in prison for allegedly embezzling $17 million to place bets with Bauer.
Bauer's sentencing is scheduled for February 7, 2025. He is facing a potential 18-year prison sentence along with three years of probation and a possible $750,000 fine. Court records indicate that Bauer, 49, had at least two professional athletes among his clients, who are believed to be David Fletcher and Cody Schultz, although their names are not specified in the documents.
