Shohei Ohtani recently made a statement during a press conference to disavow any involvement with his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara’s gambling debts. He specifically denied wiring funds to a California bookmaker to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debts. Ohtani also mentioned that Mizuhara was stealing money from his account and spreading lies about him.
The main reason why Ohtani needed to deny any involvement with Mizuhara’s gambling debts is due to the fact that California is one of the states where gambling on sports is illegal. According to the California Penal Code, participating in gambling activities can lead to criminal charges. This includes making, offering, or accepting bets, as well as conspiracy charges for wiring funds to a bookmaker.
It is crucial for Ohtani to prove that he did not willfully wire funds to the bookmaker to cover the gambling debts, as the knowingly part is significant in determining criminal liability. By declaring that he never sent the money and that it was stolen from his account, Ohtani is trying to protect himself from potential criminal charges related to unlawful betting, tax fraud, wire fraud, and bank fraud.
During the press conference, Ohtani also stated that he never bet on baseball or any other sports, nor did he ever ask someone to do so on his behalf. By denying any involvement in unlawful betting activities, Ohtani is trying to ensure that he does not face any legal consequences in connection with his former interpreter’s actions.
One aspect that was not addressed during the press conference was how Mizuhara managed to access Ohtani’s bank account and make the wire transfers without alerting Ohtani. It is unclear why the bank did not flag these significant transactions, which leaves a potential loophole for further investigation into the matter.
Overall, Ohtani’s denial of any involvement with illegal gambling activities and his assertion that the money was stolen from his account is crucial in protecting himself from potential criminal charges. As the investigation continues, more details may emerge regarding the extent of Mizuhara’s actions and Ohtani’s knowledge of the situation. It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds in the coming weeks.
