Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball player Shohei Ohtani, admits to committing bank and tax fraud, misappropriating millions from Ohtani’s accounts.
Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, has pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud charges in the United States. The 39-year-old from Newport Beach, California admitted to transferring approximately $17 million from Ohtani’s bank accounts to cover his personal gambling debts. This fraudulent activity took place without Ohtani’s knowledge.
The case, publicized in March, saw Mizuhara exploiting his close professional relationship with Ohtani, involving impersonation during interactions with bankers. After the scandal surfaced, Mizuhara was terminated from his position by the Dodgers, and the case is now the subject of an ongoing MLB investigation. The US Justice Department, represented by US Attorney Martin Estrada, highlighted the gravity of the offenses, noting Mizuhara’s breach of trust.
Mizuhara has reached a plea deal with Los Angeles prosecutors, facing a potential 30-year prison sentence for bank fraud and an additional three years for submitting a false tax return. Meanwhile, Ohtani, who recently celebrated his 175th MLB home run, continues his professional commitments, keeping his focus on baseball. The entire situation has sparked widespread reaction among baseball fans and has raised concerns regarding trust and financial stewardship in the sports industry.
