Ippei Mizuhara enters prison for stealing $17 million from Shohei Ohtani

In Pennsylvania, Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani, reported to a federal prison to serve a 57-month sentence following a scandal involving significant monetary theft. Mizuhara, who acted as Ohtani’s interpreter from 2018 to 2024, was charged with stealing nearly $17 million that he misappropriated to cover his gambling debts, which reached almost $41 million. Reports indicated that he falsely claimed to be attending the University of California, Riverside during the time he served Ohtani. Mizuhara was dismissed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in March 2024 amid rising concerns related to his financial activities. A federal investigation initiated the legal proceedings against Mizuhara, leading to his guilty pleas for one count of bank fraud and another for filing a false tax return in June 2024. In court, it was revealed that Mizuhara had placed approximately 19,000 bets over a two-year span, using Ohtani’s earnings without consent to settle his growing debts. The scandal hit during a pivotal moment for both Mizuhara and Ohtani; while Mizuhara faced imprisonment, Ohtani was making his much-anticipated pitching return after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The scandal transpired shortly after Ohtani’s impressive debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers and received widespread attention on social media and news platforms. Ohtani publicly distanced himself from Mizuhara’s illegal activities, asserting that he had never engaged in sports betting. Mizuhara’s actions came as a surprise to many given his long-standing role supporting Ohtani. The significant loss of funds and resulting repercussions raised questions about ethics and trust in sports management roles and the gambling industry's infiltration into professional sports. As of now, Mizuhara's restitution orders include repaying $16.9 million to Ohtani and an additional $1.1 million to the IRS, showcasing the severe financial implications of his fraudulent actions. As the Dodgers chose to prioritize their star player’s hitting role instead of a minor league assignment for rehabilitation, this scenario has undoubtedly sent shockwaves across the MLB community. The implications of Mizuhara's conduct might lead to further scrutiny on interpreters and financial advisors in professional sports, prompting discussions on regulatory measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.