Shohei Ohtani's Ex-Interpreter Faces Serious Prison Time for Embezzlement
Ex-Interpreter of Shohei Ohtani Falsely Claimed Identity in Telephonic Contacts with Bank on 24 Occasions, Pretending to Be the MLB Superstar.
The former interpreter of Los Angeles Dodgers star, Shohei Ohtani, Ippe Mizuhara, is facing a significant prison sentence of 57 months for stealing over $17 million to cover his gambling debts. Federal prosecutors are pushing for this sentence, while Mizuhara's legal team is advocating for an 18-month term, to be decided during the sentencing on February 6.
Mizuhara's gambling addiction traces back to his teenage years, often frequenting casinos multiple times a week. His gambling habits escalated to sports betting and poker, leading to a debt exceeding $40 million with illegal bookie Mathew Bowyer.
Bank Fraud Allegations
Prosecutors aim to sway the sentencing decision by presenting audio recordings of Mizuhara impersonating Ohtani on 24 occasions while speaking with bank officials. In one instance, he convinced the bank to wire funds by impersonating the MLB star and providing verification information, including a six-digit code. Mizuhara claimed that he was sending $200,000 for a car loan, although some of the wires were reportedly to Ryan Boyajian, an associate of Bowyer.
The Aftermath
Mizuhara has been advised to return the stolen $17 million as restitution and an additional $1.1 million to the IRS, although the possibility of repayment is slim. He has since worked as an Uber Eats driver but was subsequently dismissed due to pending legal action.
Regretting his actions, Mizuhara has apologized to Ohtani in a letter to the judge. In it, he expressed, "I am truly sorry for violating his trust in me."
Overall, the case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of gambling addiction and the vulnerabilities athletes may face when entrusting financial matters to close associates. [1][2][3][4][5]
[1] Source: ESPN[2] Source: CNN[3] Source: Los Angeles Times[4] Source: Associated Press[5] Source: USA Today Sports
- The sentence for Mizuhara's gambling addiction-fueled embezzlement might not be the 18-month term his legal team advocates, as federal prosecutors have gathered audio recordings showing him impersonating Shohei Ohtani to commit bank fraud.
- The case involving Ippe Mizuhara's gambling addiction and subsequent crime, which resulted in a $17 million embezzlement, highlights the risks athletes face when trusting financial matters to close associates, especially in the context of sports betting and casino-and-gambling.
- The general news about Mizuhara's current predicament also involves crime-and-justice concerns, as he allegedly impersonated Shohei Ohtani on 24 occasions to wire funds, some of which were reportedly sent to an associate involved in sports betting.
