What to know about the Shohei Ohtani interpreter gambling scandal
Shohei Ohtani is considered a victim after federal prosecutors charged his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, with bank fraud for allegedly stealing $16 million from the Dodgers star to pay gambling debts that Mizuhara owed to a reputed Orange County bookmaker.
E. Martin Estrada, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, announced the charge against Mizuhara at a news conference Thursday in Los Angeles. According to Estrada, Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani in conversations with bank officials, placed thousands of wagers and deposited winnings in a bank account the interpreter controlled.
“Mr. Mizuhara did all this to feed his insatiable appetite for illegal sports gambling,” Estrada said.
“There’s no indication Mr. Ohtani authorized the $16 million from his account to the bookmakers,” he added.
On Friday, Mizuhara surrendered to federal authorities in Los Angeles. He was scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court in the afternoon.
If convicted, Mizuhara, 39, faces up to 30 years in prison.
Last month, Ohtani’s representatives accused his former right-hand man of engaging in a “massive theft” of Ohtani’s funds, with millions of the player’s dollars allegedly used to pay off Mizuhara’s gambling debts.
Lawyers for Ohtani made that claim after The Times learned that Ohtani’s name had surfaced in a federal investigation into O.C. resident Mathew Bowyer, who is alleged to be an illegal bookmaker.
Ohtani and Bowyer have not been charged with a crime. None of the bets in question is known to have involved baseball games. Ohtani, 29, has not been accused of placing any bets.
In March, Major League Baseball opened an investigation into the Ohtani interpreter gambling scandal.
“Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhari from the news media,” MLB said then. “Earlier today, our Department of Investigations (DOI) began their formal process investigating the matter.”
Mizuhara had been Ohtani’s personal interpreter since the two-way Japanese player signed with the Angels in late 2017, a professional relationship that continued when Ohtani signed with the Dodgers this past offseason. The two men also appeared to be good friends and nearly constant companions outside of baseball.
In South Korea, TV cameras showed Ohtani and Mizuhara sharing a laugh together in the dugout during the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ season-opening win over the San Diego Padres on March 20. But the story of the gambling scandal broke soon afterward, and Mizuhara was promptly fired by the Dodgers.
Mizuhara’s account of what happened changed from Ohtani agreeing to bail out his interpreter by wiring funds to pay off Mizuhara’s gambling debts to Ohtani having no knowledge of his gambling debts and not transferring money on his behalf.
Five days after Mizuhara was fired, Ohtani, in front of reporters at Dodger Stadium, addressed the situation publicly for the first time. Through his new interpreter, Will Ireton, Ohtani said he “never bet on baseball or any other sports, or have never asked somebody to do on my behalf and I have never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports.”
Afterward, Ohtani didn’t take any questions from the six dozen media members in attendance.
Japanese media are treating the gambling scandal like a presidential election, with few wanting to believe a national hero could be accused of wrongdoing.
Here’s The Times’ coverage of the still-unfolding scandal:
Mizuhara is accused of stealing more than $16 million from the Dodgers superstar to cover debts with an illegal bookmaking operation in Orange County.
In his first comments since former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was charged, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani says he’s “very grateful” for the investigation.
The charge comes after The Times reported on allegations by Dodger Shohei Ohtani that Ippei Mizuhara engaged in ‘massive theft’ from the ballplayer’s bank account.
As incredible as it might seem that Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter could steal $16 million from him, the Dodgers star is simply a victim, not a gambler.
Federal authorities said evidence supports Dodger Shohei Ohtani’s claims he was unaware of alleged illegal gambling by his interpreter and a victim of bank fraud. He can play ball.
In the wake of federal prosecutors charging Ippei Mizuhara with stealing more than $16 million from Shohei Ohtani, what’s next for the Dodgers’ superstar and MLB?
Two Southern California gamblers who told The Times they bet regularly with the alleged bookmaking ring linked to Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter describe the operation as regimented and businesslike.
Few in Japan want to believe national hero Shohei Ohtani could be accused of wrongdoing in the sports gambling scandal involving his ex-interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
The controversy surrounding Shohei Otani is just a hint of the potential scandals arising from legalized sports betting.
Shohei Ohtani is not the first Dodger to get caught up in a sports betting scandal. What happened with Yasiel Puig offers a cautionary tale.
Now that Ippei Mizuhara is under a microscope following allegations he stole millions of dollars from Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to cover gambling debts, key aspects of his biography have proved difficult to confirm or turned out to be false.
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The Dodgers need Shohei Ohtani to be at his best, and it appears the gambling and theft scandal involving Ippei Mizuhara isn’t affecting him on the field.
The Dodgers would love for us to move on from the Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara gambling allegations, but there are still too many questions.
Will Ireton is Shohei Ohtani’s new interpreter for the Dodgers since the firing of Ippei Mizuhara amid a gambling scandal. He’s been with the team since 2016.
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Shohei Ohtani and his team allege that ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara stole from the Dodgers star’s bank account to cover millions in gambling debt. Unanswered is how the interpreter could have pulled it off without anyone noticing.
Shohei Ohtani’s name and image has been a powerful marketing force. Will the controversy around his ex-interpreter affect his brand potential going forward?
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says teammates might be able to communicate with Shohei Ohtani more effectively with the departure of Ippei Mizuhara
Shohei Ohtani’s statement blames his interpreter for wiring huge sums from his bank account to a bookmaking operation but leaves questions unanswered.
Shohei Ohtani said interpreter Ippei Mizuhara stole from him to cover gambling debts. Is Ohtani really that careless with anything but baseball?
Kiké Hernández, Max Muncy and Joe Kelly express their support for Shohei Ohtani following allegations his former interpreter stole millions from him.
Shohei Ohtani spoke for the first time since his interpreter was accused of stealing the ballplayer’s funds to place bets with an illegal bookmaker.
Shohei Ohtani is set to speak for the first time Monday since his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired amid gambling and theft allegations.
Bobby Miller looks sharp and the Dodgers drive in four runs off Angels starter Griffin Canning in a 5-3 victory over the Angels at Dodger Stadium.
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Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers after embroiling himself and superstar Shohei Ohtani in a gambling controversy that elicited an inquiry from Major League Baseball on Friday.
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After acquiring Shohei Ohtani and other standouts in a billion-dollar offseason spending spree, the Dodgers realize they must win the World Series.
Major League Baseball announces it is launching an investigation of gambling allegations made against Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
One thing is clear in the sports betting scandal involving Dodgers superstar pitcher Shohei Ohtani: He’s now in the middle of a federal investigation.
Shohei Ohtani had a close bond with his longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, but the interpreter has since been accused of theft and illegal gambling.
Major League Baseball has had gambling issues, from the 1919 Black Sox scandal to Pete Rose’s ban from the game in 1989. Will Dodger Shohei Ohtani be next?
Shohei Ohtani won’t tell his story. So his story and his public image are now in the custody of people who hope this story will simply vanish. It won’t.
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Many within the Dodgers organization seemed startled Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter and close friend Ippei Mizuhara was accused of theft and gambling.
Representatives of Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani accused his interpreter of engaging in a ‘massive theft’ of the ballplayer’s funds to place bets with an allegedly illegal bookmaker.
