Leaked Text Messages Expose Shocking Admission From Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara
Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Things are not looking great for Ippei Mizuhara following recent revelations.
Mizuhara, who worked as Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter for several years, has been charged with fraud following accusations of appropriating over $16 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s bank account to pay off gambling debt.
ESPN interviewed the 39-year-old before the reports surfaced, and he claimed Ohtani was aware of his actions. Although the network was allowed access to him by a team spokesperson, his account was disavowed the following day, with Ohtani’s camp accusing him of theft.
As noted above, the Japanese interpreter has been charged following the disappearance of the aforesaid sum from the player’s account.
“Mr. Mizuhara used and abused that position of trust in order to plunder Mr. Ohtani’s bank account,” Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said. “Mr. Mizuhara committed fraud on a massive scale.”
Mizuhara began gambling in 2021 through illegal California bookmaker Mathew Bowyer. It’s alleged that he once called a bank and falsely identified himself as Ohtani to get employees to authorize wire transfers from the pitcher’s bank account to Bowyer’s associates.
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Ohtani has since denied authorizing the wire transfers and surrendered his cell phone to the authorities, who have confirmed that there was nothing to suggest he was aware of Mizuhara’s illegal gambling or the payment of debts.
Ippei Mizuhara Admits Stealing From Shohei Ohtani In Leaked Text Messages
An affidavit shows a conversation between Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer in which the interpreter appears to confess stealing from Shohei Ohtani while claiming it was all over for him.
“On or about March 20, 2024, MIZUHARA messaged BOOKMAKER 1 stating, “Have you seen the reports?” BOOKMAKER 1 responded, “Yes, but that’s all bull S-. Obviously you didn’t steal from him. I understand it’s a cover job I totally get it.” MIZUHARA then responded to BOOKMAKER 1, “Technically I did steal from him. it’s all over for me.”
Affidavit from Ippei Mizuhara fraud case (Photo via sportscollectorsdaily.com)
Mizuhara will soon appear in the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
