Ippei Mizuhara Faces Nearly Five-Year Sentence for Impersonating Shohei Ohtani in $200,000 Fraud Scheme

Jan 24, 2025, 01:35 AM

Federal prosecutors have disclosed an audio recording that they claim captures Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, impersonating the athlete during a phone call with a bank. The recording was used as evidence in a court filing where prosecutors recommended a nearly five-year prison sentence for Mizuhara, who pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return after stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani. The audio, obtained by The Athletic from the Department of Justice, reveals Mizuhara attempting to facilitate a $200,000 wire transfer from one of Ohtani's accounts, claiming it was for a car loan for a friend. Mizuhara is scheduled to be sentenced on February 6. Prosecutors are also seeking restitution of nearly $17 million to Ohtani and an additional $1.1 million to the IRS, although they noted Mizuhara's inability to repay Ohtani. Additionally, a $200 fine has been proposed. Between December 2021 and January 2024, Mizuhara placed approximately 19,000 bets online, accumulating a debt of $40.7 million. Ohtani had provided Mizuhara with additional money and a Porsche Cayenne. The U.S. Attorney's office cited Mizuhara's misuse of Ohtani's funds, including a $325,000 charge for baseball cards and a $60,000 check for dental work, as examples of personal expenses. The office anticipates Mizuhara may argue his actions were driven by a gambling addiction, but they assert that greed was the primary motivator behind his crimes. Prosecutors have suggested the possibility of Mizuhara's deportation to Japan.