Shohei Ohtani’s former translator, Ippei Mizuhara, has been accused of stealing over $16 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star to cover gambling debts. The U.S. attorney’s office filed a criminal complaint against Mizuhara, stating that Ohtani had no knowledge of the fraud and is considered a victim in the case. Mizuhara had been Ohtani’s translator for years and had full access to his bank accounts, which he used to place bets and cover his gambling losses. The office found that Mizuhara accessed Ohtani’s accounts online and lied to the bank, pretending to be Ohtani.
Mizuhara admitted to a bookmaker in an encrypted text message that he had stolen money from Ohtani, using his position of trust to access and misuse the star’s finances. The accusations stem from a federal investigation into millions of dollars in wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank account to an illegal bookmaker starting in November 2021. Mizuhara kept his winnings in his own bank account and repeatedly asked bookmakers to raise his betting limits, despite owing them millions of dollars in losses. Law enforcement officials say Ohtani has been cooperating with the investigation and allowing access to his electronic devices.
Despite Mizuhara’s claim that Ohtani knew about the debts and was helping him pay them off, Ohtani denied any involvement in sports betting. In a press conference, Ohtani expressed sadness, shock, and betrayal upon learning about the theft by someone he had trusted. Ohtani is one of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball, having signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December. He is the only player to win the American League MVP by unanimous vote twice and the first Japanese-born player to lead the major league in home runs.
The fraudulent activity was discovered during a federal investigation into illegal sports bookmaking operations in Southern California and money laundering through Las Vegas casinos. Sports gambling is illegal in California, leading some bettors to use illegal operations for their wagers. Mizuhara faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for the charges brought against him and is expected to appear in court soon. If found to be involved, Ohtani could face punishment under Major League Baseball’s gambling policy, ranging from a suspension to permanent ineligibility. Ultimately, Ohtani has denied any involvement in sports betting and has been cooperating with law enforcement officials.
