Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was released on $25,000 bail and tidy undergo treatment for gambling addiction after appearing in court accused of stealing $16 million from the Dodgers star to cover his debts.
The 39-year-old man, who surrendered to authorities early Friday, did not enter a plea during proceedings in downtown Los Angeles. He apologized through an attorney and was ordered to return for an arraignment on May 9.
Mizuhara is charged with one count of bank fraud and faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if convicted.
Dressed in a dark suit and white shirt, he entered the courtroom with his ankles cuffed before the judge approved his lawyer’s request to remove them.
Mizuhara is accused of transferring the funds without Ohtani’s knowledge to an illegal sports betting operation. According to the federal affidavit, Mizuhara began gambling with the illegal book in late 2021, losing substantial sums.
Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, appeared in court in Los Angeles this Friday.
Mizuhara’s attorney, Michael Freedman, issued a statement saying his client “wishes to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and his family.”
To cover his debts, Mizuhara posed as Ohtani over the phone to “trick and deceive” bank employees into authorizing wire transfers from Ohtani’s account, where the player’s baseball salary was deposited, according to the affidavit.
Federal Judge Maria A. Audero also ordered Mizuhara released on $25,000 unsecured bail, meaning Mizuhara does not have to post cash or collateral to be released. If she violates the conditions of her bail, she will be forced to pay $25,000.
Mizuhara’s attorney, Michael Freedman, issued a statement saying his client “wishes to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and his family.”
“He continues to cooperate with the legal process and is hopeful that he can reach an agreement with the government to resolve this case as quickly as possible so that he can be held accountable,” Freedman said. The comment suggested that Mizuhara was negotiating a deal with prosecutors.
Mizuhara is accused of stealing $16 million from the Dodgers star to cover his debts
The hearing came a day after prosecutors charged Mizuhara and publicly exonerated Ohtani in a case that had threatened to involve the Dodgers, MLB and a power pitcher considered a national hero in his home country.
“For me, personally, this marks a break from this, and I would like to focus on baseball,” the Los Angeles Times quoted Ohtani on Friday, in his first public comments since his former performer was charged.
Other bail conditions stipulate that Mizuhara cannot gamble, either electronically or in person, enter any gambling establishment, or associate with any known gambling house.
While Mizuhara’s winning bets totaled more than $142 million, which he deposited into his own bank account and not Ohtani’s, his losing bets were around $183 million, a net loss of nearly $41 million.