Topline:
Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter of Shohei Ohtani, changed pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing nearly $17 million from the Dodgers superstar.
Why it matters: Prosecutors say Mizuhara took advantage of his unique relationship as the communications middle-man for Ohtani, even changing his account information and impersonating the two-time MVP to the bank dozens of times.
The backstory: Mizuhara, 39, originally pleaded not guilty as a formality to bank fraud and false tax return charges before a federal magistrate judge three weeks ago.
Why now: But U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb accepted his guilty plea after Mizuhara signed an agreement with prosecutors.
What's next: Mizuhara is set to be sentenced on Oct. 25, when he faces up to 33 years in federal prison between both counts.
Read on... for morre about Mizuhara's change of plea hearing.
Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter of Shohei Ohtani, pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing nearly $17 million from the Dodgers superstar.
Mizuhara, 39, originally pleaded not guilty as a formality to bank fraud and false tax return charges before a federal magistrate judge three weeks ago. But U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb accepted his guilty plea Tuesday after Mizuhara signed an agreement with prosecutors.
Prosecutors say Mizuhara illegally transferred millions from Ohtani’s bank account to pay off his own substantial gambling debts during about half of the six years they worked together. Mizuhara took advantage of his unique relationship as the communications middleman for Ohtani, even changing his account information and impersonating the two-time MVP to bankers, prosecutors added.
Mizuhara is now set to be sentenced on Oct. 25, the Associated Press reported. He’s facing up to 33 years in federal prison between both counts.
What happened at the hearing
According to the Associated Press, Mizuhara spoke briefly during the roughly 45-minute hearing to acknowledge his guilt.
“I worked for victim A and had access to his bank account and had fallen into major gambling debt,” Mizuhara told the court, referring to Ohtani. “I went ahead and wired money … with his bank account.”
Mizuhara will be required to pay restitution to Ohtani and the IRS, but the amounts could change in the months before sentencing.
Ohtani said in a statement after the hearing that the full admission of guilt has brought important closure to him and his family.
"This has been a uniquely challenging time, so I am especially grateful for my support team - my family, agent, agency, lawyers, and advisors along with the entire Dodger organization, who showed endless support throughout this process," he said in a statement. “It’s time to close this chapter, move on and continue to focus on playing and winning ballgames.”
Federal prosecutors and Michael G. Freedman, Mizuhara’s defense attorney, declined to comment outside the courthouse. Freedman also didn’t immediately respond to LAist’s request.
In a statement after the hearing, the Dodgers said the MLB investigation was now closed and they are "pleased that Shohei and the team can put this entire matter behind them and move forward in the pursuit of a World Series title."
What’s still at stake
Major League Baseball had been investigating the gambling allegations surrounding Mizuhara and Ohtani since late March, just a few days after the interpreter was fired by the Dodgers when news of the scandal broke while the team was playing the first game of the season in South Korea.
While the league allows its players to bet on sports other than baseball, sports betting isn’t allowed in California, and using illegal bookmakers is against the rules.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told The Carton Show that Ohtani has been credible and transparent, but they need to verify the story. He said the investigation is moving along, and he thinks it can be a “relatively short” process.
“The fact that there is a parallel federal investigation, I think in this particular case, may actually help us,” Manfred said in the April 5 interview.
MLB said in a statement to the Associated Press after Mizuhara’s hearing that the league considers Ohtani a “victim of fraud” and the matter has been closed.
The league has also opened an investigation into Ohtani’s former Angels teammate, David Fletcher, for allegedly placing sports bets with the same illegal bookmaking operation Mizuhara is accused of entangling with, as reported by ESPN.
According to ESPN, Fletcher said in a March 18 interview that he was there for the 2021 poker game in San Diego where Mizuhara first met the bookmaker.
