Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, has been released on bond and ordered to undergo treatment for gambling addiction after being accused of stealing $16 million from the baseball star to cover illegal betting losses. Mizuhara appeared in federal court in Los Angeles and was charged with bank fraud, which could result in a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani attends a press conference on his presentation after signing a ten-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, California on December 14, 2023. Ohtani has signed a record-shattering $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the richest in North American sports history.
Mizuhara barely spoke during the hearing, only saying "Yes" when asked if he understood the charges against him before nodding to agree to the terms of his release. The New York Times reported this week that Mizuhara was in negotiations with federal prosecutors over a possible plea deal in connection with the case.
On Thursday, US Attorney Martin Estrada told a packed press conference that Mizuhara had exploited his position as Ohtani's "de facto manager" to raid his bank account. Between December 2021 and January 2024, Mizuhara is alleged to have placed approximately 19,000 bets at an average of around $12,800 per bet.
Players found guilty of betting on a game they were involved in are subject to life bans, with one-year suspensions if they are found to have gambled on games they are not directly involved in.
Shohei Ohtani Interpreter Stealing Gambling Addiction Bank Fraud Court Appearance
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