Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter and best friend Ippei Mizuhara has been charged with bank fraud after he was discovered to have transferred over $16 million from Ohtani's bank account to cover his sports betting debts, federal authorities announced on Thursday.
The charges confirm what Ohtani had said in a press conference in March in which he stated he had no knowledge about the alleged funds.
Ohtani has denied any wrongdoing on the matter, and Mizuhara has since upheld that assertion. This is despite initial murkiness regarding the story — which was due in large part to Mizuhara relaying and potentially distorting all messaging to representatives and the media because he was his English language interpreter.
Mizuhara is alleged to have lost the immense sum wagering on soccer, basketball and other sports unrelated to baseball. The initial figure reported to have been stolen — $4.5 million — pales in comparison to the $16 million uncovered by federal authorities.
A request for comment made to Mizuhara by the Action Network yielded no response.
Mizuhara hadn't just been interpreter to Ohtani — he was a crucial member of his entourage. Mizuhara would drive him to and from games, provide advice on career decisions and serve as his main point of contact throughout the baseball season. Mizuhara — who grew up in neighboring Diamond Bar — would even sometimes cook meals for Ohtani.
Mizuhara and Ohtani’s relationship dates back to when the two-way star was 18-years-old as a rookie in Japan and blossomed into a nearly 12-year partnership.
When Ohtani decided to make the leap to MLB, he made it clear that Mizuhara be a part of his transition.
Now, Mizuhara faces potential prison time.
