LOS ANGELES — A former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pleaded not guilty Tuesday to bank fraud and tax fraud charges, a formal step ahead of a plea deal struck with federal prosecutors in a wide-ranging sports betting case. It is.
Prosecutors say Ippei Mizuhara stole about $17 million from Otani in a multi-year scheme to pay off sports gambling debts, sometimes impersonating Otani as a banker, and had personal and professional relationships with the two-way player. They allege that he abused their relationship with him.
Mizuhara signed a plea agreement detailing the charges on May 5, which prosecutors announced a few days later.
During his arraignment Tuesday in federal court in Los Angeles, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gene P. Rosenbluth will enter a plea against Mizuhara to one count of bank fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. I asked.
Although he has already agreed to a plea deal, his anticipated not guilty plea was a procedural step as the case progresses.
Defense attorney Michael G. Friedman said Mizuhara plans to plead guilty in the future.
In the hallway before the hearing, Friedman said he would not comment Tuesday.
Media members were not allowed into the main courtroom and were seated in an audio-only overflow room. The Associated Press and others filed a complaint with the court clerk and the presiding district judge.
Mizuhara spoke only to answer the judge’s questions, and when asked if she understood the content of the proceedings, she answered, “Yes, ma’am.”
According to authorities, there is no evidence that Ohtani was involved in or aware of Mizuhara’s gambling, and that the athlete is cooperating with the investigation.
What you need to know about Shohei Otani’s accusations against his former interpreter
A lawyer representing Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has accused former interpreter and longtime friend Ippei Mizuhara of “grand theft” in connection with a $4.5 million bombing.
After signing a 10-year, $700 million contract this offseason with the Angels, the two-time AL MVP reportedly had huge gambling debts that needed to be repaid.
Mizuhara initially said ESPN Ohtani had offered to repay the debt, but later changed his story and claimed he had no knowledge of the Eight-Nine wire transfer from Ohtani’s account to the alleged illegal bookmaker.
According to ESPN, the Ohtani camp “denied” Mizuhara’s initial story.
He was fired shortly after the Dodgers’ season opener against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea, and while Ohtani’s camp is seeking a law enforcement investigation following an investigation by the National Tax Agency, Ohtani has not yet spoken publicly about the situation. .
“I’ve never bet on baseball,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “That’s 100 percent. I knew that rule. … We’re going to have a meeting in spring training about it.”
Both sides maintain that Ohtani is not involved in any gambling.
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According to Mizuhara’s plea agreement, Mizuhara must pay nearly $17 million in total restitution to Otani and more than $1 million to the IRS.
These amounts are subject to change prior to sentencing.
The bank fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison, and the false tax return charge carries a maximum penalty of 3 years in federal prison.
Mizuhara’s winning stakes totaled more than $142 million and were deposited into his own bank account, not Ohtani’s. However, his losing bets were approximately $183 million, making his net loss nearly $41 million.
He didn’t bet on baseball.
He is free on an unsecured $25,000 bond, colloquially known as a “signature bond,” meaning he did not have to post any cash or collateral to get free. . If he violates the terms of his bond, including a requirement to receive treatment for gambling addiction, he will be required to pay $25,000 in restitution.
The judge set a status conference for June 14.
The Los Angeles Times and ESPN broke news of the charges in late March, the Dodgers fired the interpreter, and MLB launched its own investigation.
MLB rules prohibit players and team employees from betting on baseball, even if it is legal.
MLB also prohibits betting on other sports by illegal or offshore bookmakers.
Ohtani tried to stay focused on the scene as the case made its way through the courts.
Hours after the former interpreter appeared on court for the first time in April, during the Dodgers’ 8-7 loss to the San Diego Padres in 2011, he hit his 175th home run in MLB, tying Hideki Matsui for the second home run in Japan. This is the highest record for a former player. inning.
