Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani, is reportedly in negotiations with federal prosecutors to plead guilty to allegations of stealing from Ohtani to cover gambling debts, as per the New York Times.
The case involves at least $4.5 million transferred from Ohtani’s account to an illegal gambling operation in Southern California, according to ESPN. While the exact charges under discussion were not disclosed, the Times report, citing unnamed sources, suggests prosecutors may have uncovered evidence of additional theft beyond the reported amount.
Neither Mizuhara’s attorney nor the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California has responded to requests for comment.
Ohtani, who recently signed a record-breaking contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, addressed the situation in a press conference on March 25, asserting that he was a victim of theft and denying any involvement in illegal betting. He emphasized his commitment to abiding by Major League Baseball’s rules, which prohibit betting on baseball.
Contrary to Mizuhara’s claim that Ohtani agreed to cover his gambling debts, Ohtani stated that Mizuhara admitted to using his account for the payments. This revelation led to Mizuhara’s termination by the Dodgers.
Mizuhara had been closely associated with Ohtani since their time together at Japan’s Nippon Ham Fighters, accompanying him during his tenure with the Los Angeles Angels before joining the Dodgers.
