A name that might be familiar to regular viewers of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” has emerged in connection with the criminal case against former Shohei Ohtani performer Ippei Mizuhara.
Ryan Boyajian, who appeared in all 17 episodes of the long-running reality series last season as cast member Jennifer Pedranti's boyfriend, was a middleman between Mizuhara and alleged illegal bookie Mathew Bowyer, according to a report from ESPN who cited anonymous sources. .
According to ESPN, Boyajian is the person referred to as “Associate 1” in the federal complaint against Mizuhara. The complaint states that Mizuhara was instructed to make electronic payments to a bank account in the name of “Associate 1” to settle his gambling debts. That account, ESPN reports, is one that Bowyer and Boyajian have used for real estate projects.
Between February 2022 and October 2023, the complaint states, that account received electronic payments of at least $15 million from the account of “Victim A,” who is known to be Ohtani. According to the plea agreement, Mizuhara made the payments without “Victim A”’s knowledge because the former performer had changed the email address and phone number registered on Ohtani’s bank account to his own email address. email and telephone number.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday that Mizuhara agreed to plead guilty in federal court to stealing millions of dollars from Ohtani to cover gambling debts. Mizuhara has been accused of stealing more than $17 million from the Dodgers star.
Ohtani was cleared of any wrongdoing in the matter by federal authorities last month.
Steven Katzman, Boyajian's attorney, declined to answer emailed questions about the matter from The Times “in light of the ongoing investigation in which my client is cooperating.”
“He's not a bookie or a secondary bookie,” Katzman told ESPN of Boyanjian.
Boyajian received immunity in exchange for his testimony, multiple sources told ESPN. Bowyer was not named in the complaint against Mizuhara and has not been charged with any crime.
Pedranti and Boyajian announced their engagement to People magazine last month.
