Shohei Ohtani’s former translator Ippei Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank fraud in connection to stealing nearly $17 million from the Japanese baseball star to cover gambling debts that he owed to an alleged California bookmaker.
Mizuhara pled to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return, the Justice Department announced on Wednesday.
The fraud charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison and the tax return count carries a sentence of up to three years in federal prison.
He also will be required to pay full restitution to his victims, which includes Ohtani and the IRS, faces five years of supervised release and a fine of $1,250,000.
“The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is massive,” United States Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. “He took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel a dangerous gambling habit. My office is committed to vindicating victims throughout our community and ensuring that wrongdoers face justice.”
Mizuhara’s arraignment is set for next Tuesday.
Law enforcement officials have viewed Ohtani as a victim in the matter with his longtime friend and interpreter taking advantage of his role as “de facto manager” for the MLB superstar.
Details about the matter emerged during a bizarre period right around the start of the MLB season in March when Ohtani’s name popped up in connection with a federal investigation of alleged bookmaker Mathew Bowyer.
Bowyer reportedly told Mizuhara to wire his payments to an associate, whom ESPN revealed to be “The Real Housewives of Orange County” cast member Ryan Boyajian, a longtime friend and business associate of Bowyer’s.
What to know about Shohei Ohtani's accusations against his former interpreter
Lawyers representing Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani have accused his now-former interpreter and longtime friend Ippei Mizuhara of “massive theft” in a $4.5 million bombshell.
Mizuhara, who followed the two-time AL MVP from the Angels after he signed a 10-year, $700 million deal this offseason, reportedly accrued massive gambling debts he needed to pay off.
Mizuhara first told ESPN Ohtani offered to pay off the debt and later changed his story, insisting the Japanese star was unaware of the eight-nine wire transfers made from his accounts to an alleged illegal bookmaker.
Ohtani’s camp has “disavowed” Mizuhara’s initial story, per ESPN.
He was fired shortly after the Dodgers’ season opener against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea, and Ohtani has yet to publicly address the situation, though his camp is pushing for a law enforcement investigation amid an IRS probe.
“I never bet on baseball,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “That’s 100%. I knew that rule. … We have a meeting about that in spring training.”
All sides claim Ohtani has no involvement in any gambling.
The story took a turn when ESPN reported Mizuhara initially alleged Ohtani was aware of the wire transfers and was helping him cover his gambling debt in a lengthy interview with the outlet, only to disavow his comments and change his story right before the article was published.
“Mr. Mizuhara exploited his relationship with Mr. Ohtani to bankroll his own irresponsibility. In cases where we are able to identify them, we make every effort to make things right for victims, and this is one of those cases,” Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher said in a statement.
The Justice Department announcement further detailed the trust and dependence that Ohtani placed in Mizuhara, ranging from translating for him to helping handle communications with financial advisers, sports agents and opening bank accounts.
Mizuhara is said to have begun placing illegal sports bets through the alleged bookmaking operation run by Bowyer in 2021 and quickly started racking up debt.
Ohtani has remained mum on the investigation outside of a press conference in late March.
He deflected a question about it recently, but said the incident helped him realize “how supportive” his teammates are with the Dodgers.
“The investigation is currently still going on, so I can’t really say much about that,” Ohtani said in late April, according to The Athletic. “But it made me really realize how supportive the teammates, the organization, the staff have been towards me. It’s just allowed me to really reflect on how grateful I am to be surrounded by them.”
