Federal authorities have charged the former longtime interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani with federal bank fraud, accusing him of stealing over $16 million from Ohtani to cover gambling debts.
FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers ' Shohei Ohtani , right, and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, attend at a news conference ahead of a baseball workout at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 16, 2024. Federal authorities charged the former longtime interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday with federal bank fraud , alleging that he stole more than $16 million from the Japanese sensation to cover gambling debts .
"Mr. Mizuhara did all this to feed his insatiable appetite for illegal sports betting," Estrada said, adding the complaint alleges he committed fraud "on a massive scale." Ohtani subsequently laid out a version of events that placed responsibility entirely on Mizuhara, who had given conflicting accounts of whether Ohtani had paid off Mizuhara's gambling debts.
On March 25, Ohtani told a Dodger Stadium press conference that he never bet on sports or knowingly paid any gambling debts accumulated by his interpreter. Ohtani said he first became aware of Mizuhara's gambling problem during a team meeting after a season-opening victory over the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea.
Interpreter Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani Bank Fraud Gambling Debts
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Shohei Ohtani Joining Los Angeles Dodgers, 10-Year, $700 Million ContractShohei Ohtani just announced he is a Los Angeles Dodger ... reportedly inking a massive 10-year, $700 million contract -- the richest deal in Major League Baseball and North American sports history.
Read more »
Shohei Ohtani's Interpreter Fired by Los Angeles Dodgers Over Allegations of Illegal Gambling and TheftShohei Ohtani’s interpreter and close friend has been fired from the Los Angeles Dodgers following allegations of illegal gambling and theft from the Japanese baseball star. Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was let go from the team Wednesday following reports from The Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker.
Read more »
Shohei Ohtani Hits First Home Run for Los Angeles DodgersShohei Ohtani hit his first home run for the Los Angeles Dodgers, a solo shot in the seventh inning, as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-4, to complete a three-game sweep.
Read more »
Former Interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers Star Shohei Ohtani Facing Federal ChargesThe former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is facing federal charges related to his alleged theft of millions from the slugger.
Read more »
Former Translator Allegedly Steals $16 Million from Los Angeles Dodgers Star Shohei OhtaniIppei Mizuhara, former translator of Shohei Ohtani, is accused of stealing over $16 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers star to cover his gambling debts. Ohtani had no knowledge of the fraud and is considered a victim in the case.
Read more »
Shohei Ohtani's Dodgers debut feels like a breath of fresh air, for Shohei OhtaniOctober baseball once felt like a distant goal for Shohei Ohtani. Suddenly, after just one game with his new team, he had to sense how close it was.
Read more »