Los Angeles, California – Federal prosecutors charged Ippei Mizuhara, a longtime interpreter and close friend of baseball star Shohei Ohtani, with bank fraud on Thursday, alleging that he embezzled over $16 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player to settle gambling debts.
This development comes after initial reports by various news outlets indicating that Ohtani’s name appeared on large sums of money transferred to a suspected illegal bookie. In a press conference to announce the charges, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized that Mizuhara had abused his position of trust to steal from Ohtani, labeling the player as a victim in this case.
The indictment not only clears Ohtani’s name in the scandal but also puts Major League Baseball at ease as Ohtani, a prominent figure in the league, was at the center of the controversy. Signed to the Dodgers on a record-breaking contract worth $700 million, Ohtani’s reputation as a skilled player and global icon was at stake.
Confusion arose initially when Ohtani’s spokesperson echoed Mizuhara’s claim that the wire transfers were authorized by Ohtani to cover gambling losses. However, Ohtani’s legal team swiftly refuted this, asserting that the player was a victim of extensive theft.
The investigation, initiated by MLB last month, resulted in the statement that Ohtani was indeed defrauded, with no evidence of his involvement in illegal betting activities. Furthermore, the investigation revealed no indications of betting on baseball by Mizuhara, prompting the league to pause any further inquiries pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
The indictment shed light on the magnitude of the gambling debts accumulated by Mizuhara, totaling over $180 million in wagers. Records suggest that Mizuhara exploited his relationship with Ohtani, using his interpretation role to manipulate the player and his representatives for personal gain.
According to federal investigators, Ohtani denied authorizing any wire transfers and claimed ignorance of the situation until Mizuhara confessed to using Ohtani’s funds to pay off his bookie. The investigation uncovered Mizuhara’s intricate scheme, involving impersonation and elaborate strategies to deceive bank officials and advance his illicit gambling activities.
As the case unfolds, Mizuhara faces the possibility of up to 30 years in prison if convicted. The intricate web of deception and financial misconduct continues to unravel, highlighting the vulnerable position Ohtani found himself in due to the betrayal of his trusted confidant.