LOS ANGELES (CN) — Ippei Mizuhara, the longtime translator to Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, appeared in federal court in downtown LA for the first time Friday. Mizuhara faces charges of bank fraud in the theft of more than $16 million from Ohtani to fund what U.S. attorney Martin Estrada called his "insatiable appetite for illegal sports gambling.”
Mizuhara, 39, was released on an unsecured $25,000 bond. Though he has yet to enter a formal plea, his attorney Michael Freedman said in a written statement, "He is continuing to cooperate with the legal process and is hopeful that he can reach an agreement with the government to resolve this case as quickly as possible so that he can take responsibility."
The statement added: "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."
If convicted, Mizuhara faces up to 30 years in prison.
Ohtani, a generational talent who excels at both pitching and hitting, and Mizuhara have been friends for more than a decade, having met in 2013 while both were working for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Mizuhara worked as Ohtani's interpreter when the ballplayer moved to the U.S. and was negotiating with various Major League Baseball teams. In public settings, the two were virtually inseparable; a teammate was once quoted saying, "They've transcended friendship into brotherhood, truly."
According to the federal complaint, Mizuhara transferred more than $16 million from Ohtani's bank account between November 2021 and January 2024. Mizuhara used the money to gamble on sporting events — though not baseball, according to Estrada — with an illegal bookmaker, and "began losing substantial sums of money in late 2021." Prosecutors also say Mizuhara managed to place himself in a position where he had direct access to Ohtani's bank account, and to block Ohtani’s agent, financial adviser and accountant from the account.
Mizuhara placed a staggering 19,000 wagers between December 2021 and January 2024, averaging 25 bets of $10 to $160,000 per day. According to the complaint, his losses outpaced his winnings by more than $40 million.
A federal investigation led to Mizuhara's bookmaker, who has yet to be named. That investigation in turn led to Ohtani's name, which then led to Mizuhara.
Prosecutors obtained Mizuhara's cellphone, and text messages found on it show the depths of the translator's gambling habit. One text to the bookmaker in 2022 read: “I’m terrible at this sport betting thing huh? Lol . . . Any chance u can bump me again?? As you know, you don’t have to worry about me not paying!!”
Another text weeks later read: “Can u bump me last 200? I swear on my mom this will be the last ask before I pay it off once I get back to the states. Sorry for keep on asking." The bookmaker replied: “Np done bud. Merry Christmas.”
Relations between Mizuhara and the bookie began to turn colder, as the translator's debt ballooned.
“I know ur busy but u Need to show some respect," the bookie texted Mizuhara. "I put my neck out here. Call me by Tonight. I don’t care what time or how late it is.”
“I’m so sorry bro," Mizuhara replied. "I really don’t mean to disrespect you at all I promise . . . it’s just been super super busy ... and I’ve got other issues on the side going on too. everything has just been really really tough recently... Imma try to send something tomorrow.”
By January 2024, the unnamed bookmaker's tone had turned menacing. He texted Mizuhara, “you’re putting me in a position where this is going to get out of control. If I don’t hear from you by the end of the day today it’s gonna [sic] be out of my hands.”
The Dodgers fired Mizuhara in March, hours after a game in South Korea in which the translator and Ohtani could be seen chatting amicably in the dugout. Initially, Mizuhara's story was that Ohtani had been covering his gambling debts. A day later, that story changed — Mizuhara had stolen the money. The shifting narrative fueled speculation that Ohtani himself was gambling. But Estrada on Thursday was quick to debunk that idea.
"I want to emphasize this point — Mr. Ohtani is considered a victim in this case," Estrada said at a press conference on Thursday. "There's no evidence to indicate that Mr. Ohtani authorized the over $16 million in transfers from his account to the bookmakers."
But the bookmaker himself may have believed it was Ohtani gambling. After news of the scandal broke, 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.”
Mizuhara, a Japanese citizen, has already turned over his passport, which will be held as a condition of his release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Audero ordered him not to communicate with Ohtani in any way, including electronic communication, and to refrain from gambling or communicating with any known bookmakers. The judge also ordered Mizuhara to participate in a gambler's addiction treatment program.
Mizuhara's attorney Michael Freedman told the judge that his client "fully intends to participate" in such a program. Mizuhara is set to be arraigned on May 9.
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