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While Shohei Ohtani is out here living his best life and casually being the best hitter in baseball despite having elbow surgery in September, former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is not having quite as much fun.
Mizuhara rose to fame, or infamy, when it was discovered that he racked up millions in gambling debt using Ohtani’s money.
Now he’s facing up 33 years in federal prison for a litany of crimes, many of which didn’t even involve Ohtani.
“A Japanese-language interpreter has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges for illegally transferring almost $17 million from a Major League Baseball (MLB) player’s bank account – without the player’s knowledge or permission – to pay off his own substantial gambling debts incurred with an illegal bookmaking operation and for signing a false tax return,” the US Justice Department said in a release on Wednesday.
Mizuhara faces a lengthy prison stay. Even despite pleading guilty.
“Ippei Mizuhara, 39, of Newport Beach, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, and one count of subscribing to a false tax return, which carries a sentence of up to three years in federal prison,” the release read.
Ohtani maintained his innocence through. He claimed that Mizuhara acted without his knowledge. And the courts appear to agree. But it still served as a black cloud over the superstar’s illustrious career.
Though DOJ attorney’s say Mizuhara clear took advantage of Ohtani.
“The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is massive,” U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada said in a statement. “He took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel a dangerous gambling habit.”
Ohtani, meanwhile, leads the Major Leagues in batting average, slugging percentage and OPS+ while sitting second in both home runs and RBIs.