Ohtani Interpreter in $17M Gambling Theft Gets Almost 5 Years in Prison

Posted on: February 8, 2025, 01:57h. 

Last updated on: February 8, 2025, 01:58h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.

Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was sentenced to 57 months in prison Friday for stealing almost $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers star.

Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani, sentencing, LA Dodgers, fraud
Ippei Mizuhara arriving at a federal court in Santa Ana, Calif. a day before his sentencing Friday. As Ohtani’s interpreter he was able to exert control over the MLB star’s finances, allowing him to fund a “drastic” gambling habit, the court heard. (Image: Kyodo)

Mizuhara, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of felony bank fraud and another of filing a false tax return in May 2024.

“I want to say I am truly sorry to Mr. Ohtani for what I have done,” Mizuhara told the court.

He admitted plundering the money from one of Ohtani’s bank accounts. The elite slugger and pitcher’s lack of fluent English allowed the defendant to assume control over his affairs, becoming not just his interpreter but his de facto manager, the court heard.

Rogue Interpreter

Mizuhara had helped Ohtani open the bank account in 2018 and later impersonated his employer to bank officials on more than two dozen occasions. In this way, he was able to deceive employees into authorizing wire transfers of cash without Ohtani’s knowledge.

The rogue interpreter then transferred most of the money to California-based illegal bookmaker Matthew Bowyer to cover gambling debts. Mizuhara’s attorney Michael G. Freedman described his client’s gambling addiction as “drastic.”

Bowyer lost $7.9 million gambling at Resorts World from June 2022 to October 2023, according to ABC News sources.

That made him a person of interest in a wider investigation by federal agents in Southern California into illegal sports betting and the possible washing of profits at Las Vegas casinos, although the bookie has not currently been accused of any crime.

‘Magnitude of Money’

Along with his prison term, Mizuhara was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to pay nearly $17 million in restitution to Ohtani, plus $1.1 million to the IRS.

The magnitude of the theft — $17 million — in my view, is shockingly high,” said U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb at sentencing, adding that most people don’t make that much money in their lifetime.

“I hope that Mr. Mizuhara will be able to repay that sum,” the judge said. “That remains to be seen.”

Joseph T. McNally, acting United States Attorney for the Central District of California said after sentencing that Mizuhara had a “unique position of trust that gave him power, brought him fame, and paid him well.”

“Unfortunately, he exploited this dream job to steal millions of dollars from his friend and confidant,” McNally added. “This is a sad tale of an American success story gone wrong — so wrong that Mr. Mizuhara will be spending years inside a prison cell.”