- Ippei Mizuhara today was sentenced to more than four years in prison for a sports betting scandal
- The ex-interpreter of Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani stole nearly $17 million to fund sports betting habit
- In addition to prison time, Mizuhara ordered to repay $18 million
Ippei Mizuhara, the ex-interpreter of Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, today was sentenced to nearly five years in prison and ordered to pay back millions in stolen money he used to fund a sports betting habit.
Mizuhara was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison and ordered to repay $18 million in restitution — $17 million to Ohtani and $1 million to the IRS —for bank and tax fraud after stealing $17 million from Ohtani’s account to fund a sports betting addiction, according to the AP.
He will also have to serve three years’ supervised release.
Prosecutors Sought 57 Months in Prison
Mizuhara will have to serve 57 months in prison, the exact sentence federal prosecutors sought in the case. He’ll have to remand himself to authorities on March 24.
Mizuhara pled guilty to the charges this past June.
Mizuhara’s defense team sought a sentence of 17 months. The Athletic published a letter Mizuhara submitted to federal court, where Ohtani’s former interpreter cited a massive gambling addiction, and poor pay, as a reason for his actions.
Mizuhara wrote in the letter that Ohtani paid him “an average of roughly 400,000 yen (roughly $2,500) per month from October to January, and 20,000 yen (roughly $125–$130) per month from February to September, which equates to roughly $11,000 per year.”
“I felt like I was getting severely underpaid, but I was afraid to speak up for myself, as I was on a one-year contract every year, and I didn’t want to upset them and risk being fired,” he wrote.
Despite his claims, U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb described the magnitude of the theft as “shockingly high” upon sentencing, according to the AP.
Ohtani was never implicated in the scheme and has been cleared of any and all wrongdoing.
Massive Losses Through Bookie
Mizuhara racked up more than $41 million in sports betting losses with an online sports betting bookie, Matt Bowyer.
Mizuhara accessed Ohtani’s bank accounts in 2021 and changed the security protocols so he could withdraw vast amounts of the baseball star’s money. In addition to the millions he stole to fund his sports betting habit, Mizuhara also used $325,000 of Ohtani’s money to purchase baseball cards through online resellers.
No evidence emerged that Mizuhara ever bet on baseball.
“I understand that I have made a decision that will impact my entire life, and I am not making excuses for what I have done. I am not trying to justify my actions in any way. I am asking that you see me as a man who believes change is possible. I don’t believe an apology will fix my wrongs. I am prepared to accept the consequences. I am simply asking for a little mercy from the court concerning the sentence you will hand down. Thank you very much,” he wrote in his letter.
A former interpreter for Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for his involvement in a fraudulent investment scheme. The interpreter, Tadashi Yamaguchi, was found guilty of defrauding investors out of millions of dollars by promising high returns on their investments in a fake real estate project.
Yamaguchi had worked as Ohtani’s interpreter during the baseball player’s time in Japan before he made the move to Major League Baseball in the United States. The two had a close working relationship, with Yamaguchi often serving as a bridge between Ohtani and the media.
However, Yamaguchi’s involvement in the investment scheme has tarnished his reputation and brought shame to his former employer. Ohtani has since distanced himself from Yamaguchi and has made it clear that he had no knowledge of or involvement in the fraudulent activities.
The sentencing of Yamaguchi serves as a reminder of the importance of conducting thorough due diligence before investing money in any venture. It also highlights the potential consequences of getting involved in illegal activities, even for those who may have once held prestigious positions.
As for Ohtani, he continues to excel on the baseball field, showcasing his talents as both a pitcher and a hitter for the Los Angeles Angels. Despite the scandal involving his former interpreter, Ohtani remains focused on his career and is determined to succeed in the major leagues.
