Ohtani interpreter charged with stealing over $16m
By Max Matza
US officials have charged baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani’s long-time interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, with stealing millions from the sports star.
The lead prosecutor in California accused Mr Mizhuara of impersonating Mr Ohtani to banks and to place wagers.
“Mr Ohtani is considered a victim in this case,” US Attorney Martin Estrada told reporters at a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Mr Mizuhara, 39, was fired last month as news of the alleged theft emerged.
Prosecutors claim that the interpreter used Mr Ohtani’s money to place bets and deposited his winnings into an account that he controlled.
Between November 2021 and January 2024, officials said he wired more than $16m (£13m) in unauthorised transfers from Mr Ohtani’s account.
“Mr Mizuhara did all this to feed his insatiable appetite for illegal sports gambling,” Mr Estrada said.
The charging document alleges that Mr Mizuhara, who acted as Mr Ohtani’s de facto manager, took advantage of the fact that the Japanese sports star does not speak English.
