Shohei Otani’s ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara pleads guilty to fraud after stealing nearly $17M from him, MLB closes investigation By Associated Press
Published June 4, 2024, 1:38 p.m. ET The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud on Tuesday and admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off sports betting debts.
Ippei Mizuhara’s crimes stunned the baseball world, shattering his image as Ohtani’s shadow at ballparks around the U.S.He entered his guilty plea Tuesday in federal court in Santa Ana, California.The ex-interpreter had exploited his personal and professional relationship with Ohtani to plunder millions from the two-way player’s account for years, at times impersonating Ohtani to bankers.