Former Interpreter for Shohei Ohtani Sentenced to Nearly Five Years for Fraud and Gambling Scheme

Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for MLB star Shohei Ohtani, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for embezzling nearly $17 million from the athlete.

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Interpreter who stole $17m from MLB star Shohei Ohtani jailed for nearly five years

The Guardian

Baseball star Ohtani's interpreter jailed for $17m gambling fraud

BBC News

Baseball star Ohtani’s ex-interpreter is sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in sports betting case

CNN

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, received a four-year, nine-month prison sentence for stealing nearly $17 million to fund gambling habits. He was ordered to pay $18 million in restitution, primarily to Ohtani. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank fraud and tax evasion. The theft has raised concerns about Ohtani's involvement, although he has clarified he was unaware of Mizuhara's actions. Mizuhara's legal troubles stem from gambling addiction, leading to deceptive practices to access Ohtani's bank accounts. A Federal investigation into gambling fraud in Southern California influenced Mizuhara's case.

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