Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter has been fired again.
Former Dodgers employee Ippei Mizuhara has been banned from delivering for Uber Eats, one day after The Washington Post shared exclusive photos of him making deliveries across Los Angeles amid his gambling scandal.
The company said Mizuhara was banned from the delivery app due to an ongoing lawsuit. He told NBC Los Angeles.
“Mizuhara has been a delivery driver for Uber Eats for several years. As a result of these charges, he will no longer have access to the platform,” Uber spokesperson Gabriela Condulco Quesada told the outlet.
In one photo, Mizuhara is seen wearing a black hat, sweatshirt and shorts, carrying a red delivery bag and heading to the home of what appears to be a customer.
Other photos show Mizuhara handing out drinks and paper towels.
He was spotted stopping for a quick smoke break.
Mizuhara pleaded guilty earlier this week to bank fraud and tax evasion, admitting to stealing about $17 million from the Japanese baseball superstar to pay off his own sports betting debts.
The disgraced interpreter used his personal and professional ties to Ohtani to steal millions of dollars from the two-way player’s accounts over the years.
He even imitated Ohtani in front of bankers.
Mizuhara’s winnings, totalling more than $142 million, were deposited into his bank account, but he lost around $183 million.
When Ohtani signed his 10-year, $700 million contract during the offseason, Mizuhara had just moved from the Angels to the Dodgers.
The Dodgers fired Mizuhara in March, even though he had not gambleed on baseball.
Ohtani hasn’t spoken much since the scandal came to light, but he did issue a statement of his own after pleading guilty.
“The completion of the investigation and my full admission of guilt marks a major closure for me and my family,” Otani said. “I am extremely grateful to the authorities for swiftly completing their thorough and effective investigation and for uncovering all evidence.”
The baseball superstar was officially exonerated following MLB’s independent investigation and Mizuhara’s guilty plea.
Mizuhara’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 25th.
The Suwon gambling scandal was the first major one to rock the league since gambling was legalized in many states.
On Tuesday, MLB banned Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano for life after it was discovered he had bet on 25 Pirates games while on the disabled list but did not appear in any of them.
Marcano didn’t win any of the bets.
The league also suspended four other players for one year for violating sports betting rules.
