Former Ohtani translator pleads guilty to fraud
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.
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 wracking up debt.