Ippei Mizuhara, the longtime former interpreter of MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani, has received a 57-month prison sentence for federal bank and fraud charges.
Mizuhara was sentenced at the federal courthouse in Santa Ana, California, on Thursday, February 6.
The 40-year-old Hokkaido Prefecture native, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2024 after he was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers, amassed millions of dollars in gambling debts. Between 2021 and 2024, he illegally used Ohtani's bank account to make wire transfers for gambling debts and to place wagers with a California bookie.
Investigators discovered that Mizuhara placed an estimated 19,000 bets during this period, averaging $12,800 USD (¥1.9 million JPY) per wager, Agence France-Presse reported.
According to a federal investigation conducted by the Department of Justice and the International Revenue Service, Mizuhara stole $17 million (about ¥2.6 billion) from Ohtani. Without Ohtani's permission, Mizuhara changed the security settings on the ballplayer's bank account to make repeated wire transfers. Identity theft, plain and simple.
In addition to the 57-month jail term (one count of bank fraud, one count of subscribing to a false federal tax return), Mizuhara was given three years of probation following his release. During his probation, Mizuhara will be required to participate in gambling addiction counseling.
He was ordered to pay back roughly $17 million to Ohtani and another $1 million (about ¥152 million) to the IRS.
US District Judge John W Holcomb, who presided over the case, said, "The magnitude of the theft — $17 million — in my view, is shockingly high," The Associated Press reported.
Mizuhara was also ordered to surrender to authorities to start his prison sentence on March 24.
Ippei Mizuhara Stole Millions of Dollars From His Friend
Michael Freedman, Mizuhara's attorney, was seeking an 18-month prison term for his client.
The court rejected Freedman's request.
"Mr Mizuhara had a unique position of trust that gave him power, brought him fame, and paid him well," Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally said at the courthouse, according to The Associated Press. "Unfortunately, he exploited this dream job to steal millions of dollars from his friend and confidant."
McNally added, "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."
Before Judge Holcomb sentenced him to nearly five years in the slammer, Mizuhara issued an apology.
"I am truly sorry to Mr Ohtani for what I have done," Mizuhara said, according to BBC. "[And] 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."
As a convicted felon, Mizuhara, who is not an American citizen, is expected to be deported back to Japan after completing his prison sentence.
Sports gambling is illegal in California, though it is permitted in 38 of 50 US states.
Mizuhara 'Exploited His Position of Trust'
During MLB's season-opening Seoul Series between the Dodgers and National League West rival San Diego Padres in March 2024, the games were overshadowed by the developing story of Mizuhara's gambling scandal.
The interpreter was fired between the first and second games of the series. He was accused of "massive theft" against Ohtani.
The law firm Berk Brettler issued a statement to the Los Angeles Times that month that sparked global media coverage of a gambling probe linked to the activities of California-based bookie Matthew Bowyer.
"In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities," read the law firm's statement.
The truth later emerged.
"Mr Mizuhara exploited his position of trust as an advisor to steal from Mr Ohtani to cover debts incurred through illegal and irresponsible gambling," said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office, according to a news release. "Furthermore, Mr Mizuhara failed to report his ill-gotten gains as taxable income.
"This sentencing should serve as a warning to those who neglect to report all income during tax season. We are proud to have partnered with Homeland Security Investigations to bring closure to Mr Ohtani and justice to Mr Mizuhara."
RELATED:
- Ex-MLB Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara to Plead Guilty to Bank Fraud
- EDITORIAL | Ohtani Interpreter's Ruin Shows the Evil of Illegal Gambling
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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