Ippei Mizuhara, the former Angels and Dodgers interpreter suspected of stealing millions from Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, was officially charged with bank fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California announced Thursday.
Mizuhara — Ohtani's longtime translator and manager — is alleged to have taken $16 million from the Dodgers megastar without his knowledge or permission as he attempted to clear massive gambling debts.
The offenses are alleged to have taken place between November 2021 and January 2024, according to an affidavit filed Thursday via federal criminal complaint. Mizuhara is believed to have changed the contact information linked with Ohtani's American bank account — an account Mizuhara allegedly accompanied Ohtani to help set up back in 2018 — to wire bank transfers to associates of the illegal sports book with which Mizuhara is alleged to have been involved.
The affidavit also states that Mizuhara reportedly impersonated Ohtani on the telephone in an effort to fool bank employees into transfer Ohtani's earnings into to the illicit gambling ring. Any winnings Mizuhara received went straight into his bank account, per the Los Angeles Times' Dylan Hernandez.
All told, Mizuhara is alleged to have lost more than $40 million to the illegal bookmaker — not named in the complaint but previously reported to be Mathew Bowyer from Orange County, California. He also is accused of using Ohtani's bank account to buy approximately $325,000 worth of baseball cards.
Later on, it was reported that Mizuhara sent funds from Ohtani's bank account to an illegal bookmaking operation, and that money was then forwarded to California and Las Vegas casinos, according to ESPN's Tisha Thompson.
Bowyer was allegedly a "frequent customer" at Resorts World, as a casino in Las Vegas. Sources told ESPN that "Mizuhara paid his losses to Bowyer's associate, who forwarded the money to his own 'marker' accounts at Resorts World and Pechanga Resort Casino in Southern California. The men then withdrew chips from the marker account, gambled with them, and if they won, cashed out."
MORE: What to know about bookmaker at center of Shohei Ohtani-Ippei Mizuhara gambling scandal
In an interview with law enforcement, Ohtani categorically denied giving Mizuhara access to his bank records.
Mizuhara is currently negotiating a guilty plea for federal crimes, the New York Times reported Wednesday. He is not suspected to have bet on baseball, according to Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.
Ohtani is said to have had no prior knowledge of Mizuhara's dealings.
“At this point Mr. Ohtani is considered a victim in this case," Estrada said.
In a statement to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, Major League Baseball said the following:
"We are aware of the charges filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office against Mr. Mizuhara for bank fraud after a thorough federal investigation. According to that investigation, Shohei Ohtani is considered a victim of fraud and there is no evidence that he authorized betting with an illegal bookmaker. Further, the investigation did not find any betting on baseball by Mr. Mizuhara. Given the information disclosed today, and other information we have already collected, we will wait until resolution of the criminal proceeding to determine whether further investigation is warranted."
Bank fraud is a felony offense that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. Mizuhara surrendered to law enforcement on Friday morning, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.
Ippei Mizuhara surrendered to law enforcement this morning and is in federal custody. He is scheduled to appear in L.A. court at 1 p.m. PT. The expectation, according to what I was told yesterday, is that he will be let out on bond at that point.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) April 12, 2024
Mizuhara pled guilty to bank and tax fraud charges and can face a maximum of 33 years. His sentencing date is scheduled for Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. ET.
NEWS: Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s former and longtime interpreter, pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud charges during a change-of-plea hearing in federal court this morning.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) June 4, 2024
Total maximum sentence: 33 years.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 25 at 2 pm PT.
Shohei Ohtani career earnings
Per Spotrac, Ohtani has earned $44,269,259 over the course of his big-league career. That total includes just $2 million of the record 10-year, $700-million deal he signed during the offseason.
Shohei Ohtani net worth
Ohtani's net worth is valued at $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Much of that revolves around his numerous endorsements; since coming to prominence, corporations like Oakley, Panini, Fanatics, Hugo Boss and Seiko Watch all inked deals with the hulking slugger/ace.
