Ohtani's Former Interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, Agrees to Plead Guilty to Bank, Tax Fraud

Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of tax fraud.

While employed as Ohtani's interpreter, Mizuhara allegedly stole about $17 million from the MLB star to pay off gambling debts that had grown as large as $41 million.

Mizuhara paid off his gambling debts by making a series of deposits of up to $500,000 into marker accounts at Resort World casinos based in Las Vegas and California, according to ESPN. The accounts are allegedly linked to bookmaker Matthew Bowyer, who is under federal investigation.

Guilty plea

Mizuhara is set to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return at an arraignment scheduled for May 14. 

As a result, Mizuhara could face a maximum sentence of 33 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $1,250,000. Mizuhara will also be required to pay full restitution to Ohtani, as well as the IRS.

He helped Ohtani open bank accounts in Arizona during 2018, with one receiving Ohtani's MLB salary. Mizuhara then allegedly changed the security protocols, email, and phone number of the account to go directly to him instead of Ohtani.

That allowed him to keep wire transfers from being flagged, and per his plea agreement, Mizuhara admitted to impersonating Ohtani to the bank more than 20 times. He also reportedly falsified his tax returns in 2022, underreporting his income by more than $4 million.

"The extent of this defendant's deception and theft is massive," United States Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. "He took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel a dangerous gambling habit. My office is committed to vindicating victims throughout our community and ensuring that wrongdoers face justice."

Timeline and Ohtani's Knowledge

The Los Angeles Angels employed Mizuhara as Ohtani's interpreter, and he's worked with the two-way star since 2018. MLB has also employed him separately for additional work.

Mizuhara's illegal activities began in September 2021 and continued until March 2024, according to prosecutors. It began with Mizuhara getting access to Ohtani's bank account that he helped him open before changing the security protocols.

"When Ohtani's sports agent and financial advisors asked Mizuhara for access to the bank account, Mizuhara lied and said Ohtani did not want them to access the account because it was private," the Department of Justice said in a press release. 

In March, Ohtani released a statement regarding Mizuhara and the funds he had stolen from his account without his knowledge. He also stated that he had never bet on any sport, nor had he ever asked someone else to do it for him.

In late March, while in South Korea for the Dodgers season opener, Ohtani spoke publicly about the allegations against Mizuhara.

“I do want to make it clear that I never bet on sports or have willfully sent money to a bookmaker," he said.

Through an interpreter, Ohtani also said that Mizuhara had been stealing money from his account and telling lies and that he was “very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this.”