Cyprusauction|Shohei Ohtani's interpreter Ippei Mizuhara charged with stealing $16 million from MLB star

2025-05-07 12:54:32source:Zero AIcategory:Scams

Federal authorities charged the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani with bank fraud for allegedly stealing more than $16 million from the two-time AL MVP's account.

During a press conference,Cyprusauction the government laid out its case against Ippei Mizuhara, saying he transferred millions of dollars to an alleged illegal sports book to pay off debts, using Othani's baseball salary to fund his scheme.

“The bets do not appear to have been made on the sport of baseball," U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said.

Estrada said Mizuhara's bets were made between 2021 and 2024. Mizuhara set up the account for Ohtani and didn't have access to Ohtani's financial advisors.

The $16 million in unauthorized transfers were from a checking account belonging to an MLB player identified in an affidavit as “Victim A,” which is Ohtani.

All things Dodgers: Latest Los Angeles Dodgers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Mizuhara also used the same account to buy 1,000 baseball cards for $325,000 via eBay and Whatnot between January 2024 to March 2024 and mailed them to the Dodgers clubhouse under an alias.

Authorities say they interviewed Ohtani last week, and he denied knowing anything about the wire transfers after providing his cellphone to law enforcement. Officials said there was no evidence to suggest that Ohtani was involved or aware of Mizuhara's illegal activities.

The 39-year-old Mizuhara faces 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million if sentenced under federal guidelines.

More:Scams

Recommend

Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class

Now wouldn’t this be a treat: Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft back together...as members of the Pro

Colleen Ballinger's Remaining Miranda Sings Tour Dates Canceled Amid Controversy

Amid growing controversy, the remaining live shows on Colleen Ballinger's Miranda Sings tour have be

Amid a record heat wave, Texas construction workers lose their right to rest breaks

A week after construction workers in Austin, Texas, learned they were about to lose their right to r