Report: Shohei Ohtani’s Former Interpreter Negotiating Plea Deal amid Gambling Scheme

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIApril 11, 2024

Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Federal authorities have concluded that Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was the victim of fraud in regards to their investigation into his ex-interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, who was previously accused of stealing $4.5 million from the reigning American League MVP’s bank account to cover gambling debts owed to an illegal bookmaking operation, per TMZ Sports.

And now Mizuhara is reportedly in negotiations to plead guilty to federal crimes connected to the alleged theft, according to Tim Arango and Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times.

Ohtani previously stated publicly that he has never bet on baseball or any other sports. He also said that his former interpreter stole money from him and told lies.

Per multiple reports, federal investigations are pointing toward Ohtani telling the complete truth, with the caveat that the allegations may have even been worse than reported.

The Times has reported via its sources that “prosecutors have uncovered evidence that Mizuhara may have stolen more money from Ohtani than the $4.5 million he was initially accused of pilfering.”

Furthermore, the Times added that investigators believe they have evidence Mizuhara changed Ohtani’s bank account settings so he couldn’t get alerts following transactions.

TMZ Sports reported that federal authorities “concluded Mizuhara was lying — that Ohtani was completely in the dark over the gambling debt, and Mizuhara embezzled from one of Ohtani’s accounts without the pitcher’s knowledge.”

The outlet added Ohtani “was not involved in any wrongdoing and has never had any association with gambling or bookmaking.”

The Times noted that the Los Angeles offices of the Internal Revenue Service’s criminal division and the Department of Homeland Security have jointly led the investigation alongside the U.S. attorney’s office for the Central District of California.

The Times also added that Ohtani’s lawyers first contacted federal authorities about the alleged theft. In addition, authorities have interviewed Ohtani recently to gain more information about his relationship with his ex-interpreter.

Word of the allegations first emerged on March 20, when the Dodgers played the San Diego Padres to kick off the Seoul Series (and the 2024 MLB season).

ESPN’s Tisha Thompson provided a detailed report of the findings and spoke with Mizuhara, who said that Ohtani agreed to pay off his gambling debts. He also said Ohtani had no involvement with any gambling.

One day later, Mizuhara changed course and told Thompson that he Ohtani didn’t have any knowledge of his debts, nor did the ballplayer transfer money to the bookmaking operation to cover them.

Ohtani’s lawyers then issued a statement on the same day.

“In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities,” the statement from Berk Brettler LLP read.

And now all signs from the most recent reports and investigations are pointing toward that being the case.