‘Real Housewives Of Orange County’ Castmember Ryan Boyajian Reportedly Caught Up In $16M Theft And Gambling Scandal Surrounding Shohei Ohtani’s Former Interpreter
Ryan Boyajian, who along with fiancée Jennifer Pedranti appears on The Real Housewives of Orange County, is reportedly caught up in the $16 million gambling and theft scandal surrounding the former interpreter of Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.
ESPN, citing multiple sources, reported that Boyajian is the bookmaker’s associate to whom interpreter Ippei Mizuhara wired money to pay his gambling debts.
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Mizuhara today agreed to plead guilty to two federal charges related to the theft of nearly $17 million from the Dodger slugger’s bank account. Prosecutors say Mizuhara used that money to pay off illegal gambling debts.
Ippei Mizuhara, 39, could face more than 30 years in federal prison under the plea deal, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Per ESPN, Mizuhara’s illegal bookmaker told the interpreter he could pay his gambling debts by wiring money to “Associate 1.” That, according to ESPN, is Boyajian.
A statement from the office of United States Attorney Martin Estrada contends “Mizuhara regularly logged into Ohtani’s bank account and initiated wire transfers from the account to the bookmaker and his associates as payments for gambling debts. For example, on June 20, 2023, Mizuhara accessed the account without Ohtani’s permission and transferred $500,000 to one of the bookmaker’s associates.”
Boyajian’s lawyer told ESPN, “Because there is an active investigation and Ryan is working with the authorities, he can’t confirm or deny what is going on. He is not a bookmaker or a sub-bookie.”
Boyajian and the alleged illegal bookmaker in question, Mathew Bowyer, reportedly laundered Mizuhara’s payments through “marker” accounts at casinos. After depositing the payments, Boyajian and Bowyer “then withdrew the chips from the marker accounts, gambled with them and if they won, cashed out.”
Multiple sources told the outlet that Boyajian received immunity in return for his testimony.
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