Former Dodgers Interpreter Charged with Federal Bank Fraud in $16M Scandal Involving Shohei Ohtani
LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a shocking turn of events, former Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, has been charged with federal bank fraud for allegedly stealing over $16 million from the Japanese sensation to cover gambling bets and debts. Mizuhara, who had been a constant presence beside Ohtani since 2018, is accused of exploiting Ohtani’s trust and the language barrier to access and plunder a bank account that only he could control.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada revealed that Mizuhara had become Ohtani’s “de facto manager,” allowing him to withdraw money from the account to fuel his illegal sports betting habit. The scale of the theft has shocked the sports community, but investigators have confirmed that Ohtani was unaware of Mizuhara’s actions and is considered a victim in the case.
The criminal complaint against Mizuhara details a scheme involving thousands of bets, with winning wagers totaling over $142 million, but losses amounting to nearly $41 million. Mizuhara now faces up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted of bank fraud. The scandal has also prompted Major League Baseball to open its own investigation, with the Dodgers firing Mizuhara immediately upon the news breaking.
Ohtani, who recently signed a record-breaking contract with the Dodgers, has denied any involvement in the gambling scandal and has cooperated with investigators. The Japanese star expressed shock and sadness over Mizuhara’s actions, emphasizing that he never participated in sports betting or knowingly funded any gambling debts.
The Mizuhara case is part of a broader probe into illegal sports bookmaking organizations in Southern California and money laundering through Las Vegas casinos. The investigation remains ongoing, with multiple targets identified. As the story continues to unfold, the sports world is left reeling from the betrayal of trust and the magnitude of the fraud committed against one of baseball’s brightest stars.