Ippei Mizuhara, who once served as a trusted interpreter, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison after he was found guilty of embezzling almost $17 million from famed baseball star Shohei Ohtani.
His sentence is set to begin on March 24, following which he will face an additional three years of supervised release.
Moreover, Mizuhara is required to pay back nearly the entire sum he misappropriated from Ohtani.
Charges and Sentencing
Initially facing a maximum sentence of 33 years, Mizuhara chose to plead guilty to serious allegations that included bank and tax fraud.
The prosecution argued for a 57-month prison term, which the court accepted, while his lawyers requested a lighter sentence of only 18 months.
Prosecutors revealed that Mizuhara had a serious gambling problem, claiming he placed around 19,000 bets with an illegal bookmaker from 2021 to 2024, resulting in losses estimated at about $40.6 million.
As Ohtani’s interpreter and confidant since the player came to the U.S. in 2018, Mizuhara resorted to secretly withdrawing funds from Ohtani’s Major League Baseball salary account to settle his gambling debts.
This scheme fell apart following the season opener of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Manipulation of Finances
To maintain his grip on Ohtani’s finances, Mizuhara even impersonated the baseball star during a crucial bank call, trying to authorize a large wire transfer to his bookmaker.
The relationship between athletes and their interpreters often runs deep; Mizuhara’s role in Ohtani’s life extended to the point that communications from Ohtani’s agent went through him, which gave Mizuhara significant power over Ohtani’s financial dealings.
When confronted about his actions, Mizuhara attributed his wrongdoing to a gambling addiction.
However, prosecutors challenged this assertion, pointing out that his record had been clean prior to the thefts from Ohtani.
Impact on Ohtani
Mizuhara was a recognizable presence in Ohtani’s MLB career until the onset of the 2024 season.
He joined Ohtani’s team after the star signed with the Angels, earning a salary of $500,000 following Ohtani’s high-profile contract with the Dodgers.
Sadly, they only had the chance to collaborate in a single game before Mizuhara’s actions led to his undoing.
This case raises important questions about the level of access and authority interpreters hold over athletes’ personal and financial lives.
Despite the surrounding chaos, Ohtani remained focused on his game, earning accolades like his third MVP award and a championship ring during his inaugural season with the Dodgers.
His ability to thrive under such pressure serves as an inspiring reminder of resilience in the face of adversity.
