MLB, Feds Conclude Shohei Ohtani Investigation After Guilty Plea By Ippei Mizuhara
Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, pleaded guilty Tuesday to bank and tax fraud, according to the Associated Press. Mizuhara also admitted to taking nearly $17 million from Ohtani in order to pay off debts accrued in sports betting.
"I worked for victim A and had access to his bank account and had fallen into major gambling debt," Mizuhara said in his court appearance. "I went ahead and wired money … with his bank account."
Ohtani issued a statement after the guilty plea, thanking the Dodgers for their support and saying that the "full admission of guilt brought important closure" for him.
"Now that the investigation has been completed, this full admission of guilt has brought important closure to me and my family," Ohtani said. "I want to sincerely thank the authorities for finishing their thorough and effective investigation so quickly and uncovering all of the evidence. This has been a uniquely challenging time, so I am especially grateful for my support team - my family, agent, agency, lawyers, and advisors along with the entire Dodger organization, who showed endless support throughout this process. It's time to close this chapter, move on and continue to focus on playing and winning ballgames."
Major League Baseball also announced that the guilty plea effectively closed their investigation into the matter.
"Based on the thoroughness of the federal investigation that was made public, the information MLB collected, and the criminal proceeding being resolved without being contested, MLB considers Shohei Ohtani a victim of fraud and this matter has been closed."
This picture taken on March 16, 2024 shows Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (R) and his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara (L) attending a press conference at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul ahead of the 2024 MLB Seoul Series baseball game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)
Federal Investigators Present Clear-Cut Case Against Ohtani Interpreter
No matter how conclusive the case, no matter how many guilty pleas, no matter how many detailed, step-by-step accounts of exactly how Mizuhara stole money from Ohtani are released, there will continue to be many who refuse to believe in Ohtani's innocence.
Regardless of how many refuse to accept it however, the guilty plea puts the final nail in the conspiracy coffin. Mizuhara faces up to 33-years in federal prison; a remarkably high bar for someone "taking the fall" as critics suggest. But the proof released by federal investigators is far more compelling.
Multiple stories have detailed how Mizuhara siphoned money from Ohtani's bank account, how he communicated with the bookie and that Ohtani knew nothing about it.
He helped Ohtani set up a bank account in the U.S., had the login information, changed the account notification settings to ensure only he was notified about transactions, impersonated Ohtani multiple times on the phone with the bank to make transfers, and even double dipped. On one occasion, Ohtani gave him $60,000 for dental work, then Mizuhara deposited the money in his personal account and used Ohtani's to pay the bill.
All of the winnings from the bets went into Mizuhara's personal account. There were also multiple conversations between him and the bookie where Mizuhara asked for higher markers; something that would be entirely unnecessary if Ohtani was backing the bets. An associate with the bookie also threatened Mizuhara by saying he'd approach Ohtani while he was walking his dog, because Mizuhara had yet to pay. All of this also confirms Ohtani's innocence; if he was the mastermind, he'd have known about the unpaid debt, which amounted to a few dollars for the extremely wealthy superstar.
The feds also didn't find a single text message between Mizuhara and Ohtani about sports betting, though they did find one of Mizuhara admitting that he'd stolen from the 29-year-old superstar. And of course, MLB would have no power over federal investigators anyway.
It's as clear cut a case as you can possibly have, which is why Mizuhara pleaded guilty. And also why many fans refuse to accept it.