Continuance in Ippei Mizuhara’s Case Will Move Sentencing for Ohtani’s Ex-Interpreter to December

As expected, a federal judge approved a motion for continuance in Ippei Mizuhara’s case that will move his sentencing to December.

Mizuhara, the former interpreter of Shohei Ohtani, initially faced sentencing next month for stealing millions from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star player. During a 25-month period through January, Mizuhara placed roughly 19,000 wagers with an illegal sports betting ring. While Mizuhara amassed winning bets of $142.3 million, he also incurred losses of approximately $182.9 million with an illicit gambling business in California.

In June, Mizuhara pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. Before the continuance, Mizuhara was set to learn his fate at a sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court on Oct. 25. While the interpreter is facing more than 30 years in prison, he will likely receive a sentence that is substantially less severe. Mizuhara is accused of embezzling at least $16 million from Ohtani, who has been cleared by federal authorities.

Therapy for Compulsive Gambling

By any stretch, Mizuhara’s gambling patterns should be considered excessive. According to court filings, Mizuhara averaged nearly 25 wagers per day, with the bets ranging between $10 and $160,000.

When calculated in totality, the average bet total per wager came in at about $12,800. Mizuhara placed the wagers with Mathew Bowyer, an illegal bookmaker who is awaiting sentencing in connection with running the massive sports betting ring.

Michael Freedman, an attorney for Mizuhara, submitted a stipulation with the court on Sept. 22 for a continuance in the sentencing. Freedman made the request to prepare a sentencing position and review supporting documentation in the case. Freedman submitted the motion with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Mitchell, the lead prosecutor in the case. Mizuhara’s counsel requested additional time to review a pre-sentencing report that was disclosed to the parties on Sept. 18.

Mizuhara, according to court filings, has sought assistance from a forensic psychiatrist to evaluate the former MLB interpreter for his gambling tendencies. As part of the pre-sentencing process, the court may receive a report on Mizuhara’s evaluation prior to the hearing. The process could not be completed by an Oct. 11 briefing deadline, Mizuhara’s counsel argued.

Bowyer allegedly provided Mizuhara with generous credit lines that were virtually unprecedented, according to a source who is familiar with the Southern California market. Over the period, Bowyer would regularly “bump” the gambling limits for a client identified in court filings as “I.M.”

All told, he directed the client presumed to be Mizuhara to make payments of at least $15 million to the Bowyer Gambling Business, court records show.

While Mizuhara endured a “bad run” in 2022, an individual identified as “Bookmaker 1” continually increased his betting limits, according to Mizuhara’s plea agreement. Mizuhara owed the bookmaker more than $1 million around May 2022 when the bookie bumped up his limits, the records show.

Upon Mizuhara’s indictment in April, more than $22 million in lost wagers remained outstanding. By comparison, leading bookmakers operating in California's illegal market will typically cut off a client if their debt exceeds $20,000, sources told Action Network.

The 2024 World Series is scheduled to begin on Oct. 25, a date that would have coincided with Mizuhara’s initial sentencing hearing. Ohtani, who made his MLB debut with the Angels in 2018, has never played in the World Series but stands a decent shot of doing so this year with the postseason-bound Dodgers.

U.S. District Court Judge John W. Holcomb moved Mizuhara’s sentencing hearing to Dec. 20 in Southern California.