Mizuhara has been charged with bank fraud, a federal offence that carries a sentence of up to 30 years.
Mizuhara turned himself in this morning and is set to have his first court hearing at 1 p.m. P.T. in a Los Angeles court house.
Ippei Mizuhara, the interpreter accused of stealing more than $16 million (U.S.) from baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, has surrendered to federal authorities in the U.S.
He has been charged with bank fraud, a federal offence that carries a sentence of up to 30 years, for wiring more than $16 million in unauthorized transfers from Ohtani’s bank account to settle gambling debts.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California confirmed to the Star that Mizuhara turned himself in this morning and is set to have his first court hearing at 1 p.m. P.T. in a Los Angeles court house. Mizuhara is in negotiations to plead guilty and the investigation is “rapidly nearing a conclusion,” the New York Times reported, citing confidential sources.
Mizuhara was fired last month by the Dodgers after ESPN and the Los Angeles Times reported bank wires totalling $4.5 million had been sent from Ohtani’s account to an illegal bookmaker in California. Ohtani said he “never bet on baseball or any other sports” and that Mizuhara had stolen the money.
U.S. officials allege Mizuhara made “approximately 19,000 wagers” ranging from $10 to $160,000 per bet and averaging around $12,800. Mizuhara won around $142 million but lost around $183 million, resulting in a total loss of more than $40 million, according to the district attorney’s office.
Ohtani denied having knowledge of, or authorizing, Mizuhara’s wire transfers, which was later confirmed by a police search of Ohtani’s cellphone, which he gave to officials.
Who is Shohei Ohtani?
Ohtani, 29, is baseball’s biggest and brightest star. A generational talent who has twice won MVP and is often compared to Babe Ruth, Ohtani is both an elite pitcher and hitter — a feat that has little precedent in the 150-year history of organized baseball.
Last off-season, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700-million (U.S.) deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the largest contract in North American sports history. The Blue Jays had been rumoured to be finalists in the sweepstakes.
Who is Ippei Mizuhara?
Mizuhara, 39, had worked with Ohtani as an interpreter since 2013, when Ohtani signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Sapporo, Japan. Mizuhara was fired on March 20 shortly before ESPN and the Los Angeles Times reported the wire transfers from Ohtani’s account to Mathew Bowyer, an illegal bookmaker.
The transfers — under “Shohei Otani,” the star’s legal name — were first flagged by authorities in January, ESPN reported. Sports gambling is illegal in California.
Mizuhara originally told ESPN that Ohtani had agreed to pay his gambling debt. Ohtani learned of that claim for the first time while the Dodgers played MLB’s opening series in South Korea.
With files from Mark Colley.
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