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Christopher Scott King, a prominent bookmaker in Southern California, was sentenced to 21 months in prison on Tuesday in a Los Angeles courtroom. This ruling follows the earlier sentencing of Matt Bowyer, who received a lesser sentence in August.
King’s sentencing comes just weeks after Bowyer, who accepted approximately $325 million in wagers from Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, who was also convicted.
While Bowyer’s case drew considerable media attention due to his connections, King’s situation received less publicity. Nevertheless, their convictions mark a notable step in the fight against illegal gambling in California.
$10 million plea deal with California authorities
Christopher Scott King generated over $13 million in unreported income from his illegal bookmaking operations and other sources from 2018 to 2022, as detailed in court documents.
In April, he entered a guilty plea deal for operating an illegal gambling business, tax evasion, and money laundering.
Prosecutors revealed that King misrepresented his income to the Internal Revenue Service, claiming only $1.6 million in taxable income through fraudulent tax returns. As part of this plea agreement, he consented to a $10 million forfeiture and agreed to pay restitution for the $3.8 million tax loss incurred by the federal government.
A representative from the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California confirmed that King has fulfilled these financial obligations.
Before starting his sentence at FCI Lompoc, a minimum-security prison camp, Bowyer noted that he maintained some of the same sports betting clients as King. Although his operation involved numerous professional athletes, it remains unclear whether any of them bet with King directly.
Major NBA figures among defendants
At the height of his operation, Bowyer had a client list that included at least 700 bettors, but prosecutors did not reveal the exact size of King’s book. Both bookmakers directed customer wagers to offshore websites based in Costa Rica, highlighting the extent of their illegal activities.
King faced sentencing in federal court on Tuesday, just days after federal prosecutors in Brooklyn announced indictments against 34 individuals in a sweeping investigation into poker and sports betting.
Among those charged are three notable NBA figures, including Chauncey Billups, the head coach of the Trail Blazers, and Terry Rozier, a guard for the Miami Heat.
King took ‘full responsibility’ for actions, lawyer claims
In a pre-sentence memorandum, King’s attorneys expressed that their client is navigating a difficult phase in his life.
They noted that King is recovering from a gambling addiction and recently faced the threat of losing his home due to the Palisades wildfire. Despite these challenges, the attorneys emphasized that he has taken ‘full responsibility’ for his actions and has cooperated with the authorities throughout the investigation.
As part of his cooperation, King provided information about an unnamed associate, which earned him some credit during sentencing. In contrast, Bowyer’s extensive cooperation led to a significant reduction in his sentencing guidelines, described by U.S. District Judge John Holcomb as “extraordinary.”
Two additional bookmakers involved in the broader investigation are still awaiting sentencing. Among them, poker player Damien Leforbes has pleaded guilty to laundering millions through a Las Vegas casino. Another defendant, Wayne Nix, has experienced multiple delays in his sentencing over the past few years.
King has also been sentenced to three years of supervised release with no fines beyond the $10 million forfeiture. He is also scheduled to surrender by January 6 and has chosen not to comment outside the federal courthouse on the day of his sentencing.
Source: iGaming Business
