MLB HISTORY HEIST: It’s not just a $4.5 million theft; analysts are pegging it at a staggering $21 million at the moment!
Japanese interpreter charged with stealing $21m from MLB star Shohei Ohtani
LOS ANGELES — Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter was charged on Thursday (April 11) with bank fraud for stealing US$16 million (S$21 million) from the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger to cover gambling debts, according to court documents.
According to a 36-page criminal complaint and affidavit filed in federal court in Los Angeles, Ippei Mizuhara embezzled the money from an account of Ohtani’s that Mizuhara had helped set up and sent the funds without Ohtani’s knowledge to an illegal sports gambling operation.
US Attorney E. Martin Estrada, announcing the results of his investigation at a news conference, stressed that there was nothing to suggest wrongdoing by Ohtani, who signed a record US$700 million, 10-year contract to join the Dodgers this season.
“I want to emphasise this point. Mr. Ohtani was a victim in this case. There’s no evidence to indicate that Mr. Ohtani authorised the over US$16 million in transfers from his account to the bookmakers,” Estrada said.
The outcome spared the Dodgers and Major League Baseball a potential scandal of epic proportions, recalling the controversy stirred 35 years ago when Pete Rose was accused of gambling on baseball games, including those of his own team, while he played for and managed the Cincinnati Reds.
Those allegations led MLB to permanently ban Rose from baseball in 1989. Rose later admitted to wagering on MLB games, including those played by the Reds but said he never bet against his own team.
Ohtani, 29, whose talents as a batter and a pitcher have earned him comparisons to Babe Ruth, told reporters at a March 25 press conference that he was a victim of theft by Mizuhara and that he never bet on baseball or knowingly paid a bookmaker.
Mizuhara, 39, has agreed to turn himself over to federal authorities on Friday and was expected to make his initial court appearance that afternoon in downtown Los Angeles, according to Thom Mrozek, a spokesperson for the US Attorney’s Office.
If convicted on the single count of bank fraud with which he is charged, Mizuhara could face a sentence of up to 30 years in prison.
Starting in late 2021, Mizuhara began gambling with an illegal sports book and losing substantial sums, according to the federal affidavit.
To cover his debts, Mizuhara repeatedly impersonated Ohtani to “trick and deceive” bank employees into authorising wire transfers from Ohtani’s account, where the player’s baseball salary was deposited, the affidavit said.
Last month, while messaging a bookmaker about reports surfacing then that Mizuhara had stolen from Ohtani, Mizuhara wrote, “Technically I did steal from him. It’s all over for me,” according to the affidavit.
Mizuhara “used and abused” his unique position of trust “to plunder Mr. Ohtani’s bank account,” Estrada told reporters.
Mizuhara, who met Ohtani in 2013 when they were both with Japan’s Nippon Ham Fighters team, was the slugger’s near-constant companion during Ohtani’s six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. The interpreter was fired by the Dodgers in March.
Days later, Ohtani told reporters at the March 25 press conference that Mizuhara had admitted to him that he had been using Ohtani’s account to make the payments, and said he was “saddened and shocked” by the betrayal.
Estrada said at Thursday’s press conference that a Japanese linguist had reviewed thousands of communications between Ohtani and Mizuhara and had found no discussions between the two about betting or authorising transfers to bookmakers.
The investigation into Mizuhara grew out of an ongoing, broader probe by the US Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Homeland Security into illegal sports gambling operations throughout Southern California, Estrada said.
News
‘I’m Leaving Y’all’: Whoopi Goldberg Walks Off ‘The View’ Amid Miranda Lambert Controversy
Whoopi Goldberg’s Memorable Walk-Off Moment on ‘The View’ Whoopi Goldberg, the beloved co-host of ‘The View’, surprised audiences during a recent live show by walking off the…
Chennedy Carter VICIOUSLY FOULS Marina Mabrey! WNBA Fans DEMAND THUG get BANNED from League!
Chennedy Carter VICIOUSLY FOULS Marina Mabrey! WNBA Fans DEMAND THUG get BANNED from League! Alright, Black and White Sports fans, let’s dive into the latest controversy…
Jemele Hill Complains Caitlin Clark Receives More Coverage Than Black Players
Jemele Hill Complains Caitlin Clark Receives More Coverage Than Black Players Caitlin Clark is the best player in women’s college basketball. She’s the biggest television draw in…
Caitlin Clark DROPS 19 Points as Fever SURVIVE Christie Sides Coaching in WIN against Dream! WNBA
Caitlin Clark DROPS 19 Points as Fever SURVIVE Christie Sides Coaching in WIN against Dream! WNBA Since news of Caitlin Clark being left off the USA women’s basketball team for the 2024…
Caitlin Clark HAS BROKEN HER BIGGEST HATER
Caitlin Clark HAS BROKEN HER BIGGEST HATER Caitlin Clark is emerging as a leading candidate for the WNBA Rookie of the Year, despite facing criticism from some…
Fever Head Coach Christie Sides Drops A Major Update On Caitlin Clark That Should Frighten The Rest Of The WNBA
Fever Head Coach Christie Sides Drops A Major Update On Caitlin Clark That Should Frighten The Rest Of The WNBA Christie Sides and Caitlin Clark (Photo by…
End of content
No more pages to load