Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter, sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison

Ippei Mizuhara, Dodger star Shohei Ohtani’s former long-time interpreter and close friend, was sentenced to 57 months, or nearly 5 years, in prison on bank fraud and false tax return charges, LAist has confirmed.

Mizuhara, 40, appeared before Judge John W. Holcomb at the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Santa Ana on Thursday afternoon.

He could have been sentenced to a maximum of 33 years in prison, but federal prosecutors were seeking 57 months.

Michael G. Freedman, Mizuhara’s attorney, was seeking an 18-month sentence, according to a separate court filing. He cited Mizuhara’s alleged gambling addiction, which Freedman said he dealt with for decades.

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About the sentencing

Mizuhara has been ordered to pay nearly $17 million in restitution and a little over $1 million to The IRS, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

He is set to surrender to prison on March 24.

Mizuhara’s sentencing was delayed multiple times, with the original October date coinciding with Ohtani’s World Series debut against the New York Yankees.

How we got here

It’s been nearly a year since the scandal surfaced.

Accusations that Mizuhara had engaged in gambling and theft were first reported in March — while the Dodgers were in Seoul, South Korea, to kick off the 2024 season with a pair of games against the Padres.

The Dodgers fired Mizuhara, and days later, Major League Baseball announced that it would be opening its own investigation into the allegations.

In April, Mizuhara was charged with stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani to finance his "voracious appetite for sports betting," United States Attorney Martin Estrada said.

Mizuhara agreed to plead guilty, in an agreement with federal prosecutors a few weeks later, to illegally transferring the money — without Ohtani’s knowledge or permission — and for signing a false tax return.

MLB investigation

Major League Baseball closed its investigation into Ohtani in June, shortly after Mizuhara pleaded guilty and the league took disciplinary action against two other players for sports betting.

MLB said in a statement that it considers Ohtani a “victim of fraud," echoing prosecutors in the case.

The Dodgers also released a statement: “With today’s plea in the criminal proceedings against Ippei Mizuhara and the conclusion of both federal and MLB investigations, the Dodgers are pleased that Shohei and the team can put this entire matter behind them and move forward in pursuit of a World Series title.”

The Boys in Blue went on to win the World Series against the Yankees, becoming eight-time champions in October.