Former Interpreter for Shohei Ohtani Pleads Guilty to Bank and Tax Fraud

Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, has pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud related to a sports betting scandal.

Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court in Santa Ana, California, to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. Mizuhara, who had initially pleaded not guilty to bank fraud and tax evasion, changed his plea to guilty as part of a plea agreement with the prosecution.

During the brief hearing, Mizuhara stated that he had "fallen into major gambling debt" and accessed Ohtani's bank account without his knowledge or consent. Mizuhara said, "I went ahead and wired money ... with his bank account."

Mizuhara, who served as Ohtani's interpreter from 2018 to 2022, exploited his close relationship with the player to steal millions from Ohtani's account over several years. Mizuhara used his access to Ohtani's bank account to make unauthorized wire transfers to his own account.

At times, Mizuhara even impersonated Ohtani in order to deceive bankers and authorize fraudulent transactions. Mizuhara's actions resulted in significant losses for Ohtani, who was unaware of the unauthorized withdrawals.

Mizuhara used the stolen funds to place sports bets, primarily on basketball and football games. His winning bets totaled over $142 million, while his losing bets amounted to approximately $183 million. Notably, Mizuhara did not place any bets on baseball games, including those involving Ohtani.

Under the plea agreement, Mizuhara faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for the bank fraud charge and up to three years for the false tax return charge. He has also agreed to pay Ohtani restitution that could total around $17 million and over $1 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Mizuhara will be sentenced on October 25, 2024. The judge in the case has ordered Mizuhara to remain in custody pending sentencing.

There is no indication that Ohtani was involved in any illegal activities or betting on baseball. Ohtani has cooperated with investigators throughout the case and has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

The investigation into Mizuhara began in 2022 when Ohtani's representatives discovered unauthorized withdrawals from his bank account. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launched an investigation, which led to charges against Mizuhara in February 2023.

Mizuhara's conviction is a reminder of the potential consequences of sports-related gambling. The case has also raised concerns about the ethics and responsibilities of those who work closely with professional athletes.