Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani, is set to plead guilty to U.S. charges of illegally transferring nearly $17 million from Ohtani’s bank account. As part of an agreement with Los Angeles prosecutors, Mizuhara will plead guilty to charges of bank fraud and filing a false tax return.
Prosecutors say Mizuhara used the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s money to cover his own debts and support a dangerous gambling habit. According to U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, the scale of Mizuhara’s deception and theft was extensive, and he exploited his position of trust with Ohtani to carry out the fraud.
Mizuhara allegedly posed as Ohtani when calling bank officials, tricking them into authorizing wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank account to individuals associated with an illegal gambling operation. Between January and March 2024, Mizuhara reportedly spent $325,000 on baseball cards using funds taken from Ohtani’s account.
News of the scandal shocked baseball fans in both Japan and America when it broke in March. Ohtani, 29, said he was “saddened and shocked” to learn that someone he had trusted would betray him in such a way. Mizuhara was fired from his role as Ohtani’s interpreter after the allegations emerged.
Ohtani had recently signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, making him the face of the franchise. He had also won his second unanimous American League MVP award, solidifying his superstar status. The scandal came amid significant media attention around Ohtani’s personal life, following his announcement that he had gotten married in February. He later revealed his wife’s identity as Mamiko Tanaka.
Mizuhara had been Ohtani’s constant companion since the baseball star’s move to the U.S. in 2018. Ohtani, who doesn’t speak English, relied heavily on Mizuhara for communication in press conferences, meetings with financial advisers, and opening bank accounts. Mizuhara was known for his ability to effectively translate Ohtani’s Japanese comments into colloquial English, which had earned him praise in Japan.
