The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, is facing federal charges for allegedly stealing over $16 million from Ohtani in a gambling scheme, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
According to United States Attorney Martin Estrada, Mizuhara committed bank fraud to finance his illegal sports betting activities by plundering Ohtani’s bank account. Mizuhara, who helped Ohtani set up his bank account in 2018, allegedly used his familiarity with Ohtani’s finances to steal the funds and pay off his gambling debts.
The DOJ claimed that Mizuhara wired unauthorized transfers from Ohtani’s checking account to bookmakers from November 2021 to January 2024. He also impersonated Ohtani over the phone to approve the wire transfers, the DOJ said.
Mizuhara is expected to self-surrender to federal authorities on Friday and make his initial court appearance in Downtown Los Angeles. Ohtani, who is considered a victim in the case, has cooperated fully with the investigation, according to Estrada.
The Dodgers fired Mizuhara on March 20 after the gambling controversy surfaced. Ohtani, who signed a $700 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, denied any involvement in the illegal gambling activities and expressed shock and sadness over Mizuhara’s actions.
MLB is currently investigating the situation, and Ohtani continues to play for the Dodgers, focusing on his batting while recovering from elbow surgery. The scandal has rocked the baseball world, shedding light on the potential risks of trusting individuals with access to personal finances.