Ryan Boyajian, a current cast member of Bravo’s reality TV series “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” is the bookmaker’s associate to whom Ippei Mizuhara wired money to pay his gambling debts, multiple sources with knowledge of the investigation told ESPN.
Ryan Boyajian, a cast member of Bravo’s reality TV series “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” is the bookmaker’s associate to whom Ippei Mizuhara wired money to pay his gambling debts, multiple sources with knowledge of the investigation told ESPN.
Mizuhara is accused of stealing $16 million from Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani to feed what Mizuhara described as “a gambling addiction.”
RELATED: Ippei Mizuhara Reportedly Surrenders to Authorities in Los Angeles
His arraignment has been rescheduled to May 14.
As reported, and later detailed in the criminal complaint against Mizuhara, Mathew Bowyer, the illegal bookmaker under investigation, told the interpreter he could pay his gambling debts by wiring money into the account of Bowyer’s associate, known in the complaint as “Associate 1.”
That associate is Boyajian, who used the account with Bowyer for their real estate projects, according to the sources.
Boyajian, 47, and Bowyer, 49, have been close friends and business associates for nearly 20 years.
When Bowyer declared bankruptcy in 2011, court records show Boyajian loaned him $245,000.
Steven Katzman, Boyajian’s criminal attorney, says that Boyajian is working with federal authorities.
“Because there is an active investigation and Ryan is working with the authorities, he can’t confirm or deny what is going on,” Katzman told ESPN. “He is not a bookmaker or a sub-bookie.”
Multiple sources said Boyajian has received immunity in return for his testimony.
Multiple sources said Boyajian was often seen gambling with Bowyer at Resorts World Las Vegas and other casinos on the Vegas strip.
In return, Bowyer and Boyajian received high-end “comps” through their casino host, who earned money in commission based on how much they gambled.
The comps included free food and beverage, golf, tickets to shows and sporting events, shopping sprees, hotel suites and promo chips.
Ryan Boyajian is a current cast member of Bravo’s reality TV series “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”
Sources told ESPN that Mizuhara paid his losses to Boyajian, who forwarded the money to his own “marker” accounts at Resorts World and Pechanga Resort Casino in Southern California.
Boyajian and Bowyer then withdrew the chips from the marker accounts, gambled with them and if they won, cashed out.
