LOS ANGELES (CN) — Former Los Angeles Dodgers translator Ippei Mizuhara pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing nearly $17 million from his close friend, star hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani, in order to fund his deliriously expensive and unsuccessful gambling habit.
The Japanese-born Mizuhara, 39, agreed to plead guilty to one federal count of bank fraud and one federal count of subscribing to a false tax return.
“The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is massive,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada in a statement. “He took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel a dangerous gambling habit. My office is committed to vindicating victims throughout our community and ensuring that wrongdoers face justice.”
Mizuhara worked as Ohtani's interpreter for more than a decade, ever since the two met while Ohtani was playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. The two became close friends, virtually inseparable by some accounts. Mizuhara had also, by 2021, become Ohtani's de facto manager, with sole access to the ballplayer's bank account and the ability to transfer money out of it at will without Ohtani or any of his other advisers knowing.
Between December 2021 and January 2024, Mizuhara placed a staggering 19,000 wagers with an illegal bookie. According to the federal complaint, his losses outpaced his winnings by more than $40 million, a debt he was able to pay, at least in part, by stealing funds from his friend and employer.
Mizuhara's fraud appears to have been premeditated and well thought-out. According to the plea agreement, Mizuhara changed the e-mail address, password and phone number connected to Ohtani's bank account so that when bank employees wanted to verify various transactions, they would call the translator and not Ohtani. While talking to bank representatives, Mizuhara admitted to pretending to be Ohtani on around 24 occasions. In total, Mizuhara was able to wire money from Ohtani's account to associates of his illegal bookmaker 39 times, for a total of $16,590,000. One of the wires was for $500,000.
That wasn't the extent of the theft. Between January and March 2024, Mizuhara bought around $325,000 worth of baseball cards on eBay and another website, Whatnot, using Ohtani's bank account — including cards featuring Yogi Berra, Juana Soto and Ohtani himself. According to the plea agreement, he bought the cards "with the intent to resell them at a later date
and use the proceeds for his own personal benefit."
Another instant of fraud shows Ohtani's trust in his translator — and how Mizuhara betrayed it. In September 2023, according to the plea agreement, Mizuhara needed $60,000 worth of dental work done. Ohtani agreed to pay for it, and wrote his friend a check. Mizuhara then gave the dentist's office Ohtani's debit card, then deposited the check into his own bank account.
The Dodgers fired Mizuhara in March, hours after a game in South Korea in which he and Ohtani could be seen chatting amicably in the dugout. Initially, Mizuhara told the media that Ohtani had been covering his gambling debts. The next day, Mizuhara admitted he had stolen the money. The shifting narrative fueled speculation that Ohtani himself was gambling.
Even the illegal bookmaker appears to have thought that Mizuhara was placing bets on behalf of his famous employer. After news of the scandal broke, according to the complaint, Mizuhara texted the bookie, asking, “Have you seen the reports?”
The bookie responded: "Yes, but that’s all bullshit. Obviously you didn’t steal from him. I understand it’s a cover job I totally get it.”
The translator replied: “Technically I did steal from him. it’s all over for me.”
In his plea agreement, Mizuhara also admitted to lying on his tax returns, failing to report the $4.1 million he stole from Ohtani. His salary that year was $136,865.
It's unclear how long a prison term Mizuhara will face. Though the bank fraud count carries a maximum of 30 years, the fact that he has never been convicted of a crime before and is pleading guilty likely means he will face between six and eight years. The prosecutors have not yet made a sentencing recommendation. Ultimately, a federal judge will determine the sentence.
Mizuhara, through his lawyer, declined to comment on the plea agreement. In a written statement made after his first court appearance in April, his attorney Michael Freedman said, "He wishes to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and his family. As noted in court, he is also eager to seek treatment for his gambling."
Follow @hillelaron
Subscribe to Closing Arguments
Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.
