Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, was charged with unlawfully transferring $16 million from Ohtani’s bank account so he could place bets with an illegal California bookmaker. According to the criminal complaint, Mizuhara controlled access to Ohtani’s account where his MLB checks were deposited. He made “approximately 19,000 wagers between December 2021 and January 2024, and nearly 25 bets per day on average.” Mizuhara initially told ESPN that Ohtani covered his debts, although Ohtani and his lawyers stated, “Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to authorities.” Federal prosecutors are unsure of which specific sports Mizuhara wagered on, but it appears no bets were placed on baseball. MLB is investigating Mizuhara and Ohtani, but are waiting for the results of the federal investigation.
Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter Charged with Bank Fraud
