Shohei Ohtani, the star player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has found himself at the center of a shocking scandal. His former translator, Ippei Mizuhara, has been accused of stealing over $16 million from Ohtani to cover his massive gambling debts. The U.S. attorney’s office has filed a criminal complaint against Mizuhara for bank fraud, stating that Ohtani had no knowledge of the fraud and is considered a victim in the case.
Mizuhara had been working as Ohtani’s translator for years, giving him full access to Ohtani’s bank accounts. Phone records show that he accessed the accounts online and lied to the bank, pretending to be Ohtani. He even refused to give access to the accounts to Ohtani’s agent and other advisors. It was not until March 2024 that Mizuhara admitted to a bookmaker in an encrypted text message that he had stolen the money from Ohtani.
The investigation into Mizuhara’s actions came as the U.S. Department of Justice was looking into illegal sports bookmaking operations in Southern California. This led them to discover the illegal wire transfers originating from Ohtani’s account. The investigations have resulted in criminal charges and convictions of several individuals involved in the illegal operations.
While sports gambling is legal in many states, it is illegal in California, which has driven some bettors to turn to illegal operations. Mizuhara now faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for his charges.
Ohtani has been fully cooperating with law enforcement officials and has allowed them access to his electronic devices. He believed that his accountants and financial advisors were monitoring his accounts, but due to the language barrier, they communicated through Mizuhara. Ohtani expressed his shock and betrayal at the press conference, stating that he had never bet on baseball or any other sports.
If Ohtani were found to be involved in the scandal, he could face repercussions from Major League Baseball’s gambling policy. Punishments range from a season suspension to being permanently ineligible.
Shohei Ohtani is one of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball, known for his exceptional skills as both a pitcher and a hitter. The Japanese-born player joined the Dodgers with a record-breaking contract in December 2023. He has won the American League MVP by unanimous vote twice and is the first Japanese-born player to lead the major league in home runs.
This scandal has left fans and fellow players shocked and saddened by the betrayal Ohtani has experienced. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how it will impact Ohtani’s career and the reputation of those involved.
