Ippei Mizuhara Begins Sentencing for Fraud and Illegal Gambling
Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, has begun his 57-month sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution Allenwood Low in Pennsylvania. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return. The news comes after admitting that he stole more than 16 million dollars from Ohtani’s personal account. This money was used to finance his gambling addiction. Authorities revealed that Mizuhara placed more than 19,000 bets over a two-year period, accumulating a debt of over 40 million dollars with an illegal bookmaker. The prison entry was finalized just before Ohtani’s return to the mound in MLB.The scandal came to light in March 2024, when suspicious bank transfers were discovered from Ohtani’s account to an illegal betting network. Mizuhara was immediately fired from the Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani expressed his surprise and sadness at the betrayal. He denied having any knowledge of the bets or financial transactions made by Mizuhara on his behalf. In addition to Mizuhara’s conviction, Mathew Bowyer, the involved bookmaker, also pleaded guilty to operating the illegal business, money laundering, and tax evasion. His sentencing is pending. Mizuhara, who could be deported after serving his sentence, was for years the cultural connection and voice of Ohtani in the United States. This case has marked one of the most notable scandals in the MLB.He took advantage of his position of trust to harm Mr. Ohtani and feed a dangerous addiction.
Federal Prosecutor Martin Estrada
