Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, left, is shown walking with his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, right, during a spring training workout at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, earlier this year.
Former Dodgers interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is reportedly facing federal charges related to his alleged theft of millions from the slugger and is negotiating a guilty plea as part of an investigation that is racing toward a conclusion. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, center, talks with interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, left, and his agent Nez Balelo before a Los Angeles Rams game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023 in Inglewood.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, right, and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara take part in spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. The Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, right, stands in the dugout with interpreter Ippei Mizuhara before a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Anaheim on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, right, speaks to the media with the help of interpreter Ippei Mizuhara during DodgerFest on Feb. 3, 2024, at Dodger Stadium. According to Estrada, Mizuhara also allegedly lied to bank officials, and he was captured on tape-recorded calls impersonating Ohtani to “convince the bank to approve large wire transfers of large amounts of money to the bookmakers.”
Seymour wrote in the document that Mizuhara was acting as a “de facto manager” for Ohtani, and he began placing bets with the illegal gambling operation in late 2021. At about that time, bank records showed that the contact information on one of Ohtani’s bank accounts, which was opened in Arizona in March 2018, was changed to a phone number and email linked to Mizuhara.
At a news conference last month, Ohtani denied any knowledge of Mizuhara’s activities. He also vehemently denied that he was involved in any gambling activity.