The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is now facing federal charges after allegedly stealing millions from MLB’s highest-paid player in a gambling scheme, the Department of Justice stated on Thursday.
Ippei Mizuhara has been charged with bank fraud after allegedly stealing more than $16 million from Ohtani to “finance his voracious appetite for illegal sports betting,” according to US Attorney Martin Estrada during a press conference.
Estrada alleged Mizuhara committed fraud on a “massive scale” to “plunder” Ohtani’s bank account to pay for his gambling debts
Mizuhara is suspected of making more than $16 million in illegal transfers from Shohei Ohtani’s bank account
Mizuhara allegedly assisted Ohtani, who did not speak or understand English, in opening a bank account in Arizona in 2018 and later “used that familiarity” to steal funds from Ohtani to help pay for unlawful sports bets, according to the Department of Justice.
He is suspected of making more than $16 million in illegal transfers from Ohtani’s checking account between November 2021 and January 2024, according to the Department of Justice.
He is also suspected of impersonating Ohtani over the phone to get the bank to allow wire transactions to the bookmakers, according to the DOJ.
Estrada emphasized that Ohtani is a victim in the case and has cooperated “fully and completely” with the inquiry.
“There is no evidence to indicate that Mr. Ohtani authorized the over $16 million of transfers from his account to the bookmakers,” Estrada said in a statement.
According to Estrada, any winnings were deposited in Mizuhara’s personal bank account rather than Ohtani’s account, and the ex-interpreter allegedly admitted to a bookmaker about stealing from Ohtani.
Ohtani also gave investigators his cellphone, and they found no evidence to imply that he was aware of or participating in the illicit gambling activities, according to the DOJ.
“Our investigation has revealed that due to the position of trust that he occupied with Mr. Ohtani, Mr. Mizuhara had unique access to Mr. Ohtani’s finances,” Estrada said. “Mr. Mizuhara used and abused that position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani.”
Mizuhara is scheduled to appear in US District Court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming days
The maximum term for bank fraud is 30 years in prison, according to Estrada.
Mizuhara is scheduled to appear in US District Court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming days. It’s unknown whether he has an attorney.
The IRS Criminal Inquiry and Homeland Security Investigations offices in Los Angeles are conducting the federal inquiry, which is the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Homeland Security.
On March 20, the Dodgers stated that the Japanese interpreter had been sacked, after the gambling scandal. The team did not explain Mizuhara’s firing.
Ohtani addressed the topic for the first time on March 25 at a press conference. In a prepared statement, Ohtani stated through an interpreter, “I am very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this.”
“I never bet on baseball or any other sports,” Ohtani continued. “I never asked somebody to do that on my behalf, and I have never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports.”