Who Is Ryan Boyajian, RHOC Cast Member in Shohei Ohtani Gambling Scandal?

Ryan Boyajian is a cast member on Bravo’s reality TV series “The Real Housewives of Orange County.” In the sports world, he may have a new identity and title as the man who received money wired for Ippei Mizuhara’s gambling debts in the Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal.

Multiple sources reported to ESPN that Boyajian is “Associate 1” in the criminal complaint against Mizuhara. This news came three weeks after Boyajian had proposed to Bravo star Jennifer Pedranti, a fellow cast member on Housewives. Ryan entered the public spotlight during Season 17 when he began dating Pedranti.

Tamra Judge and Pedranti got into a heated argument about her new boyfriend as Judge found it hard to trust Boyajian. She believed he had been unfaithful to many of his past partners and had even tried to seduce her before the relationship began.

Boyajian denied all of the accusations against him, something he may need to get used to if the allegations about his involvement with Mizuhara’s bookmaker are true. Ryan is the Vice President of Operations at Boyajian Brokerage. He earned his bachelor’s degree in science, economics, sociology, and history from Florida State.

Before becoming Vice President of Operations, Boyajian worked as an On-Premise Sales Representative with Double Eagle Distributing. He’s also athletic, working with Bill Clark Tennis Academy as a Tennis Professional, leading many students to national tennis tournaments.

Boyajian has two children of his own, while Pedranti has five children between the ages of 5 and 18. Pedranti’s new-found family could face some turbulence if Boyajian is found guilty in the Mizuhara case.

Ippei, the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, pleaded guilty in May 2024 to stealing $17 million from the Dodger when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. Boyajian is the alleged associate listed in the criminal complaint. Ippei was wiring money into the account of Mathew Bowyer’s associate.

Bowyer is the illegal bookmaker, and Boyajian is a friend and associate. Boyajian uses the account, where Ippei was wiring the transfers, for his real estate projects. Bowyer and Boyajian knew each other for 20 years, making it unclear how long their connection in the bookmaking business goes back.

Steven Katzman, Boyajian’s criminal attorney, told ESPN in May 2024 that his client was cooperating with the 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.”

The alleged actions from Boyajian and Bowyer paint a clear picture of where Ippei and Shohei’s money was going. Boyajian and Bowyer often gambled at casinos on the Las Vegas strip. They received high-end compensation from the casinos, including free food, beverages, golf, shows, sporting events, hotel suites, and promotional chips.

ESPN’s sources indicate that after Ippei paid his losses, the gambling duo would use the money to withdraw chips from their casino accounts and gamble with them.

There is no unsealed indictment that names him, but Bowyer’s name is known as Ippei’s bookmaker’s identity. There has been no comment from Bowyer’s attorney.

The casino that Bowyer used for his transgressions is also under investigation for illegal bookmaking operations in Southern California. Twelve people have been charged or convicted with more fines and charges likely coming.

Source: ESPN