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Summary:
- Ex-interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, will enter his guilty plea this Tuesday.
- Mizuhara has admitted to stealing close to $17m in a shocking sports betting fraud case.
- The change-of-plea hearing will take place in federal court in Santa Ana, California.
Ippei Mizuhara (pictured left), the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers Japanese pitcher and designated hitter, Shohei Ohtani, has been scheduled to enter his guilty plea this Tuesday.
The ex-interpreter will attend his change-of-plea hearing in a federal court in Santa Ana, California.
Pleading Guilty to Bank and Tax Fraud
Mizuhara will plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a shocking sports betting case that took the world of professional sports by storm, especially baseball fans from the US and Japan who have been closely watching the media frenzy that normally accompanies Ohtani.
Previously, on May 5, the ex-interpreter inked a plea agreement in which he detailed the allegations, according to information from federal prosecutors.
The date of the guilty plea hearing will coincide with the Dodgers initiating a Pittsburgh-based three-game series.
Mizuhara is likely to plead guilty to one count of subscribing to a false tax return as well as one count of bank fraud.
The latter is a charge that can carry a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison. The false tax return charge can send him up to three years in federal prison.
The restitution proceedings and sentencing are yet to be established.
Years of Exploiting Personal and Professional Ties
Apparently, Mizuhara and Ohtani shared a personal and professional relationship that enabled the former to exploit his access to the player.
According to accusations from prosecutors, the ex-interpreter plundered millions from Ohtani’s account for years.
On occasion, he would impersonate him to bankers to cover his sports gambling debts.
In total, Mizuhara won more than $142 million in bets. He deposited the money in his bank account.
He also lost $183 million in bets, netting a total loss of around $41 million. He never placed any baseball bets.
The Major Baseball League forbids players and team employees to place wagers on baseball and other sports using illegal or offshore sportsbooks.
Ohtani was not involved in Mizuhara’s gambling habits, nor was he aware of it. He fully cooperated with investigators.
