The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty to financial institution and tax fraud on Tuesday and admitted to stealing practically $17 million from the Japanese baseball participant to repay sports activities betting money owed.
Ippei Mizuhara’s crimes surprised the baseball world, shattering his picture as Ohtani’s shadow at ballparks across the U.S. He entered his guilty plea Tuesday in federal court docket in Santa Ana, California.
The ex-interpreter had exploited his private {and professional} relationship with Ohtani to plunder thousands and thousands from the two-way participant’s account for years, at occasions impersonating Ohtani to bankers. Mizuhara signed a plea settlement that detailed the allegations on May 5, and prosecutors introduced it a number of days later.
Mizuhara’s profitable bets totaled over $142 million, which he deposited in his personal checking account and never Ohtani’s. But his shedding bets have been round $183 million, a web lack of practically $41 million. He didn’t wager on baseball.
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Mizuhara pleaded guilty to at least one rely of financial institution fraud and one rely of subscribing to a false tax return. The financial institution fraud cost carries a most of 30 years in federal jail, and the false tax return cost carries a sentence of as much as three years in federal jail. The sentencing listening to is scheduled for Oct. 25.
He is also required to pay Ohtani restitution that would whole practically $17 million, in addition to greater than $1 million to the IRS. Those quantities, nevertheless, might change previous to sentencing.
Mizuhara’s plea deal was negotiated with prosecutors earlier than he was even arraigned in federal court docket in Los Angeles in mid-May. He was initially charged with one rely of financial institution fraud.
There was no proof Ohtani was concerned in or conscious of Mizuhara’s playing, and the participant cooperated with investigators, authorities mentioned.
