Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s friend and former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has pleaded guilty to stealing millions of dollars from Ohtani to cover gambling debts, the U.S. Department of Justice reported.
Mizuhara, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud (30 years) and one count of filing a false tax return (3 years) and could be sentenced to up to 33 years in prison.
The Japanese interpreter plans to take a plea bargain.
“The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is egregious,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “He used his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel his dangerous gambling habits. We are committed to ensuring that we are exposed to
Ippei Mizuhara, who serves as an interpreter for Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels, stands in the dugout during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 22, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Jane Kamin Onsia/Getty Images)
According to the plea agreement, the scheme began in Arizona in 2018 after Mizuhara helped Otani, who did not speak English, open a bank account. In September 2021, Mizuhara began gambling on sporting events with an illegal bookmaker and quickly racked up debts he could not repay. However, Mizuhara had the login information for the bank account he helped open for Otani.
“Unable to pay his gambling debts, Mizuhara orchestrated a scheme to defraud banks and illegally withdraw money from his accounts,” the Justice Department said.
Specifically, Mizuhara changed his security information to deceive the bank so that after withdrawing money from the account, bank employees contacted Mizuhara instead of Otani. Furthermore, according to the plea agreement, Mizuhara made 24 phone calls pretending to be Otani during conversations with the bank.
Shohei Otani poses for a photo with interpreter Ippei Mizuhara (right) and agent Nez Valero (left) after being introduced by the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on December 14, 2023. . (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
According to reports, Mizuhara made 40 wire transactions between November 2021 and March 2024, paying nearly $17 million to bookmaker officials without Otani’s permission.
In 2022, Mizuhara also failed to declare $4.1 million in income.
On March 25, Otani mentioned the Suwon theft to reporters. “I’m very saddened and shocked that someone I trusted would do something like this,” the Dodgers slugger said.
Mizuhara’s arraignment is scheduled for May 14th.
