Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of Shohei Ohtani, who has agreed to plead guilty to charges of bank fraud

 

Ippei Mizuhara, who was the former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, has agreed to plead guilty to charges of fraud in the U.S. after transferring nearly $17 million from Ohtani's account. Mizuhara, who had been a trusted companion to Ohtani since 2018, will plead guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return as part of an agreement with prosecutors in Los Angeles. The charges stem from his unauthorized use of Ohtani's funds to settle personal debts, which prosecutors believe were largely related to a gambling addiction.

The news has been shocking for baseball fans in Japan and the United States. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized the severity of the crime, noting that Mizuhara abused a position of trust for personal gain. The potential penalties for these offenses include up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud and up to three years for the false tax return.

Ohtani, currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract, expressed deep disappointment when the allegations were initially made public in March. Despite the setback, Ohtani continues to focus on his career while fans come to terms with the betrayal. Mizuhara was known for his ability to seamlessly interpret Ohtani's comments into colloquial English, which was greatly appreciated in Japan.