Ippei Mizuhara Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years for Gambling Scheme
Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for a fraud and gambling scheme. He has been ordered to repay nearly $17 million stolen from Ohtani, along with $1 million owed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for unpaid taxes.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Mizuhara had been Shohei Ohtani’s English interpreter since the athlete debuted in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2018. His dismissal came last year after reports surfaced about his gambling activities, which led to an investigation into Ohtani’s finances. Authorities later uncovered that Mizuhara had stolen millions from the star player to settle debts with a bookmaker in Southern California. He also falsified tax records to conceal the scheme and eventually pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud charges.
Mizuhara Apologizes in Court
Appearing in a Santa Ana, California courtroom, Mizuhara remained motionless when the sentence was announced and before receiving it, he addressed the court with an apology.
I am truly sorry to Mr. Ohtani for what I have done. I know an apology will not fix the crime I committed. This mistake will impact me for the rest of my life, and I'm prepared to accept the consequences.
The scandal briefly cast doubt on Ohtani, one of baseball’s biggest international stars, as questions arose about his possible involvement in the gambling scheme. Initially, Mizuhara claimed that Ohtani was aware of his betting addiction and had loaned him money, a claim that Ohtani originally confirmed. However, the athlete later clarified that his previous comments were inaccurate and part of Mizuhara’s deception.
Ohtani has since largely refrained from speaking publicly on the matter, aside from a statement in March in which he expressed feeling “saddened and shocked” by Mizuhara’s betrayal.
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Probation and Possible Deportation
Judge John Holcomb ruled that after Mizuhara completes his prison term, he will serve three years of probation, which includes drug and alcohol testing as well as continued treatment for his gambling addiction. He must surrender to authorities on March 24 to begin his sentence.
Since Mizuhara was born in Japan, he could face deportation following his release from prison. When asked outside the courthouse about a possible appeal, his attorney declined to comment.
Beyond the stolen money, Mizuhara also used Ohtani’s funds to purchase several autographed baseball cards worth approximately $325,000. The cards were intended for resale, but Ohtani has since petitioned a federal judge to reclaim ownership as part of the financial recovery process.
Mizuhara also admitted to falsifying his 2022 tax return, underreporting $4.1 million in income from his fraudulent activities. His unpaid tax bill, including penalties and interest, amounts to approximately $1.15 million.
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