LOS ANGELES – Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, faces federal bank fraud charges after allegedly embezzling over $16 million from Ohtani to cover gambling debts.
Charges and Allegations
Officials from the Department of Justice announced the charges against Mizuhara, accusing him of stealing millions from Ohtani to fuel his illicit sports betting habits. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada stated that Mizuhara, who worked closely with Ohtani for six years, abused his position to access Ohtani’s bank accounts without his knowledge. Mizuhara, acting also as Ohtani’s manager, reportedly altered the account settings to prevent transaction alerts.
Legal Proceedings and Potential Sentence
Mizuhara is expected to surrender to federal authorities in downtown Los Angeles and may be released on bond. He faces a possible 30-year sentence if convicted. Despite his close association with Ohtani, there is currently no evidence implicating the baseball star in the embezzlement scheme, and he is fully cooperating with the investigation.
Ohtani’s Response
Shohei Ohtani expressed his shock and disbelief at Mizuhara’s actions, emphasizing that he had no involvement in illegal gambling activities. Ohtani’s initial knowledge of the situation was clouded by conflicting accounts from Mizuhara. However, Ohtani maintained his innocence, stating that he had never bet on sports or authorized payments to cover gambling debts.
MLB Investigation
In addition to the legal proceedings, Major League Baseball (MLB) is conducting its own investigation into the matter. Ohtani, while navigating the fallout from the scandal, remains focused on the upcoming baseball season.
Conclusion: Download The Local News App for Updates
As the legal and MLB investigations into the embezzlement case involving Shohei Ohtani continue, stay informed with the latest developments by downloading The Local News App to your phone. Keep up to date with breaking news alerts and comprehensive coverage of this ongoing story.
Leave a Reply