MLB star Ohtani’s interpreter imprisoned for $17 million gambling fraud

February 7, 2025

MLB star Ohtani’s interpreter imprisoned for $17 million gambling fraud

Ippei Mizuhara (pictured above on left), the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani (pictured above on right), has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for a massive fraud and gambling scheme. He stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani to cover gambling debts and falsified tax records to hide his crimes. This shocking case has reverberated through the baseball world, causing shock and raising suspicions about financial trust within professional sports by Major League Baseball (MLB).

Background of the gambling and fraud scandal

Mizuhara was a long-time friend and interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, a Japanese baseball sensation who made his MLB debut in 2018. He was a bridge between Ohtani and the American baseball world, handling translation duties, financial matters, and daily logistics.

An exceptional athlete, known for his talent as both a pitcher and a hitter, Ohtani was dependent on Mizuhara for communication and personal affairs. His relationship with Mizuhara provided access to his finances, through which all of this fraudulence was carried out.

According to reports, Mizuhara was heavily addicted to gambling and ran huge debts with a Southern California bookmaker. The addiction grew uncontrollable, leading Mizuhara to steal money from Ohtani to fund his losses.

Investigations and legal proceedings

Mizuhara used Ohtani’s accounts to make unauthorised transfers, diverting millions of dollars to pay off his gambling debts. Initially, he claimed that Ohtani was aware of these transactions, but it was later exposed as a lie.

Media reports about Mizuhara’s gambling activities triggered an investigation into Ohtani’s finances. Authorities found nearly $17 million in stolen funds linked to Mizuhara. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank fraud and falsifying tax records. He underreported $4.1 million in income and owed approximately $1.15 million in unpaid taxes, leading to additional penalties.

The judge emphasised the betrayal of trust, sentencing Mizuhara to 57 months in prison and restitution payments of nearly $18 million. Mizuhara received a 57-month prison sentence and will be required to serve at least 85 percent of it before being eligible for release. Mizuhara must repay $17 million to Ohtani and $1 million to the IRS. Additional fines and penalties could follow if he fails to meet these obligations.

“Mr Mizuhara had a unique position of trust that gave him power, brought him fame, and paid him well. Unfortunately, he exploited this dream job to steal millions of dollars from his friend and confidant. This is a sad tale of an American success story gone wrong – so wrong that Mr Mizuhara will be spending years inside a prison cell,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally.

Mizuhara later issued a public apology, acknowledging that his mistakes would follow him for the rest of his life.

He said, “I am truly sorry to Mr Ohtani for what I have done. I know an apology will not fix the crime I committed. This mistake will impact me for the rest of my life, and I’m prepared to accept the consequences.”

Impact on Shohei Ohtani career

Although Ohtani was not a participant in the gambling scheme, the scandal overshadowed his reputation. However, he distanced himself from Mizuhara’s actions very quickly.

Ohtani expressed deep disappointment, saying, “I am very saddened and shocked that someone I trusted has done this.” His career remains intact, but this experience has undoubtedly changed his approach to financial management.

MLB’s strict gambling rules

The MLB has a zero-tolerance policy towards gambling. Mizuhara’s crime was illegal, but initially, people worried about Ohtani. However, MLB found that Ohtani was innocent of any crime.

Mizuhara’s sentence was delayed for several months because he requested to undergo a psychiatric evaluation for his gambling addiction. After serving his sentence, Mizuhara will be on probation for three years, undergoing drug and alcohol testing and treatment for gambling addiction.