Los Angeles, California – A former interpreter of Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani has reached a plea deal with Los Angeles prosecutors after being accused of illegally transferring nearly $17 million from the athlete’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara will plead guilty to charges of bank fraud and subscribing to a false tax return as part of the agreement.
The case, which sent shockwaves through baseball fans in Japan and America when news first emerged back in March, alleges that Mizuhara used Ohtani’s funds to pay off his own debts and fuel a gambling habit. Prosecutors claim that Mizuhara deceived bank officials by pretending to be Ohtani, authorizing wire transfers from the athlete’s account to associates of an illegal gambling operation.
Furthermore, Mizuhara reportedly spent a significant amount of Ohtani’s money on purchasing baseball cards earlier this year. The severity of the accusations led US Attorney Martin Estrada to describe Mizuhara’s actions as “massive deception and theft,” taking advantage of Ohtani’s trust and financial resources.
The consequences of Mizuhara’s actions are grave, as the bank fraud charge alone carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison, while the false tax return charge could result in up to three years behind bars. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors have agreed to recommend a reduced sentence, with Mizuhara expected to enter his plea in the coming weeks.
The fallout from Mizuhara’s betrayal was swift, leading to his dismissal in March. Ohtani, who signed a historic $700 million contract with the LA Dodgers this season, expressed feeling “saddened and shocked” by the situation involving someone he had placed his trust in. Since Ohtani’s arrival in the US in 2018, Mizuhara had been a constant presence, assisting the baseball star with various aspects of daily life due to Ohtani’s limited English proficiency.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability that high-profile athletes may face, even in seemingly trustworthy relationships. Mizuhara’s breach of trust not only impacted Ohtani personally but also raised concerns about the safeguards in place to protect athletes’ financial interests and well-being in the sports industry.