Ohtani's Ex-Interpreter to Plead Guilty to Fraud and $17 Million Theft
Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, is set to plead guilty to charges of bank fraud and filing a false tax return in a sports betting case. Mizuhara is accused of stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani's account to cover gambling debts, often impersonating Ohtani to access his funds. Prosecutors allege that Mizuhara's winning bets totaled over $142 million, which he deposited into his own account. There is no evidence suggesting that Ohtani was aware of Mizuhara's activities.
The charges, which include bank fraud with a potential prison term of up to 30 years and a tax charge carrying up to three years, have drawn significant attention from baseball fans globally. Mizuhara allegedly began placing bets with an illegal bookmaker in 2021 and used the stolen funds for personal expenses. The case has sparked controversy and raised questions about the impact of sports gambling on the sports industry. Mizuhara's sentencing date will be set in the coming months.
