Shohei Ohtani's Ex-Interpreter To Plead Guilty After Feds Determine Dodgers Star Was Victim of Fraud

Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, 39, is in the process of pleading guilty to stealing money from the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar's bank accounts to pay off a gambling debt.

Ohtani’s name was thrust into the spotlight as part of a federal investigation into an illegal bookie in California.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 20: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after the 3rd inning during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Suspicions arose regarding Ohtani's role in roughly $4.5 million, which Ippei allegedly sent to the bookie via several wire transfers.

At first, Ohtani's involvement in the matter raised suspicions about whether the 29-year-old had been using Ippei as a scapegoat. 

Then, additional details about Mizuhara began shifting eyes toward the interpreter. It has been revealed that Mizuhara lied about attending the University of California, Riverside, and that, contrary to his resume, he never worked for the Boston Red Sox.

Conflicting testimony by Ippei was provided to ESPN during the Dodgers' trip to Seoul, South Korea.  The stories flipped between the interpreter claiming that Ohtani was aware of the millions wired to the bookie and Ohtani having no clue what had been happening in an updated statement a day later.

According to a New York Times report, Ippei now claims he turned off Ohtani's notifications from his bank to keep the former Los Angeles Angles star in the dark.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prepares for a game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on February 27, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

MLB launched an investigation into the matter alongside the federal investigation. Ohtani's team quickly dismissed any knowledge about the bets on Shohei's behalf. 

On March 25, through a new interpreter, Ohtani addressed the scandal and dismissed any knowledge of losing the $4.5 million paid to the bookie. The $700 million player said he never bet on baseball or placed bets on any sports.

According to the Times, the federal investigation of the illegal funds transferred to the bookies was conducted by the Los Angeles offices of the Internal Revenue Service's criminal division, the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.

In his statement addressing the scandal, Ohtani said, "I never bet on baseball or any other sports or never have asked somebody to do that on my behalf. And I have never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports. Up until a couple days ago, I didn't know this was happening.

"I was told by Ippei, ‘Let’s talk one on one in the hotel after the meeting,’ so I was waiting until then.

"Up until that team meeting," Ohtani said. "I didn’t even know Ippei had a gambling addiction and was in debt. I never agreed to pay off the debt or make payments to the bookmaker."

Ippei Mizuhara has been away from the public eye since he returned to the United States from Seoul for the Dodgers and Padres' overseas season-opening series. 

Michael Freedman, attorney for Mizuhara, refused to comment on Wednesday.

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