Baseball prodigy Shohei Ohtani's trusted interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, faces serious allegations from
US authorities, accused of embezzling millions from the star athlete. In a press briefing held in Los
Angeles on Thursday, US Attorney Martin Estrada revealed that Mr. Mizuhara stands accused of
assuming Mr. Ohtani's identity to conduct illicit activities, including financial transactions and placing
wagers. "Mr. Ohtani is a victim in this unfortunate situation," asserted Estrada.
The 39-year-old Mizuhara, dismissed from his position last month amid revelations of the purported
misdeeds, allegedly utilized Ohtani's funds to fuel his penchant for unlawful sports betting. According
to prosecutors, Mizuhara orchestrated unauthorized transfers totaling over $16 million from Ohtani's
account between November 2021 and January 2024. "This was driven by Mr. Mizuhara's relentless
pursuit of illegal sports gambling," stated Estrada.
Court documents outline how Mizuhara, acting as Ohtani's de facto manager, capitalized on the
language barrier between the Japanese sports star and English-speaking entities. By falsely
representing himself as Ohtani, Mizuhara deceived bank personnel into greenlighting wire transfers
from Ohtani's account to associates of the illicit gambling ring. In addition to the financial irregularities,
Mizuhara purportedly squandered $325,000 on baseball memorabilia from January to March 2024,
using Ohtani's funds. Legal counsel for Mizuhara declined to comment on the charges.
In a recent interview with prosecutors, Ohtani disavowed any involvement in or knowledge of
Mizuhara's illicit activities, offering his cellphone for scrutiny. Prosecutors corroborated Ohtani's
assertion, finding no indication of his complicity. The gravity of the allegations against Mizuhara is
underscored by the potential penalty of 30 years' imprisonment for bank fraud. Reports suggest ongoing
negotiations for a plea agreement with prosecutors. While sports betting enjoys legality in 38 US states,
it remains outlawed in California. Major League Baseball maintains strict policies prohibiting any
involvement in betting activities, whether by players, officials, or staff.
Estrada clarified that there is no evidence implicating Mizuhara in wagers on baseball games. Ohtani,
celebrated for his exceptional talent, inked a groundbreaking $700 million deal with the Dodgers,
solidifying his status as a sports icon. Mizuhara had been a constant presence since Ohtani's US debut
in 2018. Speculation surrounding Ohtani's personal life intensified recently with the emergence of a
photo featuring Mizuhara and his spouse alongside Ohtani's wife, Mamiko Tanaka. Expressing dismay
over Mizuhara's alleged betrayal, Ohtani lamented, "I'm deeply saddened and shocked by the actions
of someone I trusted. Ippei has deceived me and stolen from my accounts," conveyed through a
different interpreter during a Dodgers press event last month.
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VIP與詳解卡管理
