In a shocking turn of events, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case. The scandal involving Ippei Mizuhara has rocked baseball fans in both the U.S. and Japan.
Mizuhara was charged with bank fraud, which carries a potential 30-year prison sentence. Prosecutors allege that he stole a staggering $16 million from Ohtani to settle his own debts. Mizuhara reportedly exploited his close relationship with Ohtani to siphon millions from the player's account over several years, even going as far as impersonating Ohtani to bankers.
While Mizuhara managed to amass over $142 million in winning bets, he deposited the funds into his personal bank account instead of Ohtani's. However, his losses amounted to around $183 million, resulting in a net loss of nearly $41 million. It's important to note that there is no indication that Ohtani was complicit in or aware of Mizuhara's illicit activities, and the player is fully cooperating with investigators.
The news of Mizuhara's prosecution was first reported by The Los Angeles Times and ESPN, leading to the Dodgers terminating his employment and MLB launching its own investigation. MLB regulations strictly prohibit players and team personnel from engaging in any form of betting on baseball, including legal wagers. Additionally, betting on other sports through illegal or offshore bookmakers is also prohibited by MLB rules.
Despite being out on an unsecured bond of $25,000, Mizuhara is required to adhere to specific conditions, such as undergoing treatment for gambling addiction. Should he violate these conditions, he will be liable for the full bond amount.
Meanwhile, Ohtani has chosen to focus on his on-field performance as the legal proceedings unfold. Shortly after Mizuhara's court appearance in April, Ohtani achieved a significant milestone by hitting his 175th home run in MLB, tying Hideki Matsui for the most home runs by a Japan-born player during the Dodgers' game against the San Diego Padres.
