In this courtroom sketch, Ippei Mizuhara, the former longtime interpreter for the Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani appears in federal court in Los Angeles, Friday, April 12, 2024, on a single count of bank fraud. Prosecutors allege that Mizuhara stole more than $16 million from Ohtani to cover gambling bets and debts.
"In September 2021, Mizuhara began gambling with an illegal sports book and, several months later, started losing substantial sums of money, the affidavit states," according to the DOJ. "During this time, the contact information on Ohtani’s bank account allegedly was changed to link the account to Mizuhara’s phone number and to an anonymous email address connected to Mizuhara."
Other bond conditions stipulate that Mizuhara cannot gamble, either electronically or in-person, or go inside any gambling establishments, or associate with any known bookmakers, the Associated Press explained. Mizuhara is also prohibited from contacting any victim or witness in the case in any form. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 9.
Mizuhara was ordered to to submit to drug testing and surrender his passport and remain within the Central District of California’s jurisdiction. According to the Associated Press, the judge noted his family ties to the area, his longtime residency here and his self-surrender Friday morning when she approved the bond.The MLB said it was investigating the situation two days after Mizuhara was fired.