Shohei Ohtani was in danger due to his former interpreter’s illegal gambling, federal investigation reveals
Illegal bookie threatened to confront Ohtani amidst Mizuhara’s fraud scheme.
Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara at batting practice during spring training in Phoenix.
Former MLB interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is facing charges for allegedly defrauding Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani of more than $16 million, with new details emerging about the scandal.
Among them is a shocking revelation that Mizuhara’s illegal bookie, Matthew Boyer, threatened to confront Ohtani while he was out walking his dog in Newport Beach, California.
The federal investigation into Mizuhara’s activities uncovered a complex web of deceit, with the former interpreter accused of using Ohtani’s bank information to fund his gambling addiction.
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The bookie tracked Ohtani
Despite Mizuhara’s attempts to keep his activities secret, the bookie allegedly tracked Ohtani down and threatened to expose Mizuhara’s scheme to the baseball star.
In a message to Mizuhara, the bookie stated, “I don’t know why you’re not returning my calls. I’m here in Newport Beach and I see [Ohtani] walking his dog. I’m just gonna go up and talk to him and ask how I can get in touch with you since you’re not responding? Please call me back immediately.”
Mizuhara allegedly falsified his credentials, claiming to have attended UC Riverside and worked for the Boston Red Sox. He also accessed Ohtani’s bank account without the player’s knowledge, turning off notifications to avoid detection.
Mizuhara could plead guilty
All earnings from Mizuhara’s bets were reportedly transferred to his own account, totaling thousands of wire transfers. Ohtani, who recently signed a $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been embroiled in the scandal since it came to light.
Mizuhara is reportedly in talks to plead guilty to the bank fraud charge, with investigations ongoing by federal authorities and Major League Baseball. The case highlights the vulnerability of athletes to financial exploitation and the need for stringent safeguards to protect their assets.
