Dogders top star the Japanese baseball sensation renowned for his dual prowess as a hitter and pitcher, has recently been entangled in a significant off-field controversy involving his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara, who had been a close associate and translator for Ohtani since his arrival in the United States, pleaded guilty on June 4, 2024, to charges of bank and tax fraud. He admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani’s bank account to cover his escalating gambling debts.
The fraudulent activities came to light earlier in the year, leading to Mizuhara’s arrest and subsequent guilty plea. Investigations revealed that between December 2021 and January 2024, Mizuhara had placed over 19,000 illegal sports bets, accumulating losses exceeding $40 million. To mitigate these losses, he siphoned funds from Ohtani’s account, exploiting his position of trust.
Ohtani, who has been cooperative with authorities, is considered a victim in this case and has been cleared of any wrongdoing. The scandal has garnered extensive media coverage, given Ohtani’s prominent status in Major League Baseball and the unprecedented nature of the allegations involving his interpreter.
As of October 25, 2024, further legal proceedings concerning Mizuhara are ongoing, with sentencing scheduled for a later date. Ohtani continues to focus on his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, aiming to lead the team to a World Series title.
Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, is reported to have placed around 19,000 bets from December 2021 to January 2024—averaging nearly 25 wagers per day. Despite winning an estimated $142 million, his losses exceeded $180 million, leading to his indictment for bank and tax fraud. Facing a maximum penalty of 33 years in prison, Mizuhara’s sentencing was scheduled for October 25 at 2 p.m. PT, just hours before Jack Flaherty took the mound for the first pitch of Game 1.
Last month, Mizuhara’s sentencing was postponed to December at his own request, leaving Ohtani’s calendar open for his Friday night matchup against the Yankees. Mizuhara’s guilty plea effectively cleared Ohtani’s name, with MLB concluding its investigation and confirming that its superstar was solely a victim in the affair. Case “closed.”
The Dodgers issued a statement expressing their relief that Ohtani and the team could “put this entire matter behind them” and stay focused on their World Series pursuit. However, both MLB and the Dodgers’ statements seemed to downplay the convoluted tale of deception and mounting debt that had ensnared one of the greatest players in baseball, potentially since Babe Ruth.
In October, Mizuhara’s sentencing was delayed to December at his request, freeing up Ohtani’s schedule for his anticipated Friday night game against the Yankees. With Mizuhara’s guilty plea, MLB concluded its investigation, confirming that Ohtani was purely a victim in the case—“case closed.”
The Dodgers released a statement expressing relief that both Ohtani and the team could “move past this matter” to focus on their World Series goals. However, both MLB and the Dodgers seemed to understate the intricate web of deceit and substantial debt that had engulfed one of baseball’s all-time greats, perhaps the most significant since Babe Ruth.
Ohtani remained mostly silent, speaking only through his attorneys to assert his innocence. Later, in a 650-word statement in Japanese, the 30-year-old shared that he felt “saddened” and “shocked” by the “lies” and the betrayal of “trust.”
Ohtani’s 650-word statement, translated into English by Dodgers staffer Will Ireton, marked a shift in his connection with Mizuhara, who had been his interpreter, trainer, driver, and close friend since his MLB debut in 2018. The two were inseparable—sharing meals, a bench, and even a locker. Some fans compared them to “peanut butter and jelly,” which fueled lingering questions, even after Mizuhara was dismissed and Ohtani formally exonerated of any wrongdoing. Although the investigation cleared Ohtani in April, shadows of doubt remained as he entered a new season.
Earlier this week, Ohtani added to his accolades with a historic achievement: he became the only player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. Last month, the record-breaking ball was auctioned for $4.39 million, setting a record for the most expensive sports ball ever sold. This sale highlighted Ohtani’s immense value to the Dodgers and baseball.
The authorities determined that Ohtani was unaware of Mizuhara’s financial betrayals, which were only fully revealed in November 2023. Mizuhara received a message from “Bookmaker 1,” referring to Ohtani merely as “Victim A,” exposing the undercurrent of deceit that had undermined Ohtani’s trust and the stability of his finances.
The message from “Bookmaker 1” to Mizuhara was a sharp warning: “Hey Ippie (sic), it’s 2 o’clock on Friday. I don’t know why you’re not returning my calls. I’m here in Newport Beach and I see [Victim A] walking his dog. I’m just gonna go up and talk to him and ask how I can get in touch with you since you’re not responding? Please call me back immediately.”
By that point, Mizuhara had begun funneling as much as $500,000 per transfer from Ohtani’s accounts. The first fraudulent transfer, for $40,000, had occurred two years prior, though investigators traced similar suspicious activity back to 2018, around the time Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Angels. Mizuhara, who had known Ohtani since 2013, accompanied him to a bank in Arizona in 2018 to open an account, later using Ohtani’s trust to manipulate bank protocols and gain access to his finances.
In a 2021 poker game in San Diego, Mizuhara met Mathew Bowyer, an illegal bookmaker. Mizuhara soon started gambling heavily, accruing over $1 million in debt by the end of 2022, which eventually ballooned to $4 million. To avoid detection, Mizuhara changed the contact information on Ohtani’s bank account to his own, ensuring that any verification calls from the bank went directly to him.
In October, federal agents raided Bowyer’s home shortly before Ohtani signed a record-breaking contract. But Mizuhara’s troubles shadowed Ohtani as he moved from the Angels to the Dodgers, complicating the star’s historic season with secrets and betrayal.
Ohtani’s name emerged in two wire transfers to Bowyer, amounting to $1 million, with the initial rationale suggesting that he was covering Mizuhara’s debts, which were believed to be around $4.5 million. As the Los Angeles Dodgers geared up for the 2024 regular season, the atmosphere was already tense.
The Dodgers’ season opener against the San Diego Padres took place in Seoul on March 20. Just before the game, a bomb threat targeting Ohtani was reported, leading to a thorough investigation by the police, which ultimately deemed the threat a hoax. However, the situation within the Dodgers’ clubhouse was far from stable.
During the game, Mizuhara sat in the dugout, but later that night, he confessed to the team that he had a gambling addiction. Dodgers executive Andrew Friedman informed the players that Ohtani had been covering for his friend. Yet, the truth began to surface rapidly. Ohtani’s legal team announced they had uncovered evidence that he was the victim of a significant theft and would be involving authorities.
This revelation came through a statement from Berk Brettler LLP, a prestigious law firm known for representing high-profile clients. Allegedly, Ohtani began to connect the dots after inquiring about discussions in the clubhouse, leading to the unraveling of Mizuhara’s deceptive practices and a clearer understanding of the financial exploitation he had endured.
Mizuhara was dismissed by the Dodgers, and soon after, he faced charges for allegedly stealing over $16 million from Ohtani to support his compulsive illegal sports betting habits. This shocking turn of events revealed the extent of Mizuhara’s deceit and the depth of his gambling addiction.
Adding an unexpected twist to the saga, reports emerged that Ryan Boyajian, a cast member from *The Real Housewives of Orange County*, was involved as an associate of Bowyer, the bookmaker to whom Mizuhara had transferred money. The connection between Ohtani, a player known for his reclusive nature, and the world of reality television struck many as ironic, further intertwining his story with unexpected drama.
Ohtani typically keeps his personal life private, making his recent announcement of marriage to former basketball player Mamiko Tanaka on Instagram particularly noteworthy. This revelation came as a surprise to his teammates, who were unaware of his relationship.
The mysterious circumstances surrounding Ohtani’s life and his dependence on an interpreter have added layers to this unfolding narrative. Nevertheless, his performance on the field has remained unaffected; he has continued to excel, undeterred by the turmoil off the diamond. As the World Series approaches its conclusion in early November, Mizuhara’s sentencing will be the final chapter in this extraordinary saga, potentially providing closure for Ohtani and his fans.
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