Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, is set to plead guilty to charges of illegally transferring nearly $17 million from the baseball star’s bank account to pay off gambling debts. Mizuhara will face one count of bank fraud, which could result in up to 30 years in prison, and one count of filing a false tax return, which carries a maximum sentence of three years. The Justice Department revealed that Mizuhara took advantage of his position of trust as Ohtani’s friend and confidant to fund his gambling habit.
Mizuhara’s plea is expected to take place in Los Angeles on May 14 and he has expressed remorse for his actions, wishing to apologize to Ohtani, the Dodgers, and Major League Baseball. The investigation uncovered that Mizuhara not only stole from Ohtani but also lied to the IRS about his income. The extent of his deception and theft is described as massive, with a staggering amount of bets placed by Mizuhara that led to significant financial losses.
The criminal complaint outlined that Mizuhara placed approximately 19,000 bets between December 2021 and January 2024, ranging in value from $10 to $160,000, with an average bet size of around $12,800. Despite winning bets worth $142.3 million, Mizuhara faced losing bets of $182.9 million, accumulating losses of roughly $40.7 million. He exploited the language barrier to keep Ohtani and his team unaware of his crimes and even impersonated Ohtani to authorize wire transfers from the baseball star’s bank account.
The revelations surrounding Mizuhara’s actions came to light as the new baseball season began, shocking the sports world and potentially implicating Ohtani in scandal. Prosecutors have reiterated that Ohtani was an innocent victim in this case, with no evidence suggesting his involvement in illegal gambling. Mizuhara’s exploitation of his relationship with Ohtani has been condemned by authorities, emphasizing the magnitude of his deception and his breach of trust.
Major League Baseball’s gambling policy prohibits players, umpires, officials, or employees from betting on baseball or other sports. Those found guilty of illegal betting face severe consequences, including life bans if they bet on games they were involved in. Ohtani, known for his exceptional pitching and hitting abilities, has been portrayed as a modern-day Babe Ruth and is hailed as the global face of baseball. Despite the turmoil caused by Mizuhara’s actions, Ohtani continues to excel on the field, leading the league in hitting rankings with impressive statistics.
