TL;DR - Scouting Report
Shohei Ohtani Betrayed: Ex-Interpreter Jailed for $17M Theft—Ippei Mizuhara has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for stealing $17M from Ohtani’s account to pay off illegal gambling debts. Deportation to Japan likely after his sentence.
Start the Rally: Tweet This Now!In a shocking conclusion to one of baseball’s biggest scandals, Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, was sentenced Thursday to 57 months in federal prison for stealing $17 million from the Dodgers superstar to cover gambling debts. U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb issued the sentence in an Orange County courtroom, calling the scale of the theft “shockingly high.”
Mizuhara, once a trusted confidant of Ohtani, was also ordered to pay full restitution to the two-time MVP and $1.1 million to the IRS for failing to report stolen funds on his taxes. He must surrender to authorities by March 24 to begin his sentence and is expected to be deported to Japan upon release.
The Crime That Rocked the Dodgers and MLB
The scandal first surfaced in March 2024 while the Dodgers were in South Korea for their season-opening series against the Padres. Reports emerged that Mizuhara had wired millions from Ohtani’s account to an illegal bookmaker. Initially, Mizuhara claimed Ohtani had willingly “loaned” him money to cover gambling losses, but that story quickly unraveled.
Federal prosecutors later revealed that Mizuhara had accessed Ohtani’s bank account without his permission, placing 19,000 bets over two years and amassing debts exceeding $40 million. In one of the most damning pieces of evidence, Mizuhara was caught impersonating Ohtani on a bank call, attempting to wire $200,000 from the slugger’s account.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Mitchell highlighted the severity of the crime, noting that when Mizuhara began stealing from Ohtani in 2021, the Japanese superstar was making just $250,000 with the Angels. “Mizuhara stole almost half of everything Ohtani made at the time,” Mitchell stated.
Prosecutors: Mizuhara Had No Intention to Repay Ohtani
Throughout the trial, Mizuhara’s defense leaned heavily on his claims of gambling addiction, arguing that he was severely overworked and underpaid by Ohtani. “I felt pressure to stay in the game,” Mizuhara wrote in a pre-sentencing letter, apologizing to Ohtani while attempting to justify his actions.
Federal prosecutors pushed back, saying there was “minimal evidence” that Mizuhara had a pre-existing gambling addiction before he started stealing. “Instead of showing true remorse, the defendant tries to justify stealing millions from Mr. Ohtani,” they stated in court documents.
Judge Holcomb: ‘Most People Don’t Earn This Much in a Lifetime’
Judge Holcomb did not mince words during sentencing, expressing disbelief at the magnitude of the theft. “The theft of $17 million is shockingly high,” he said. “Most people don’t make that much money in their lifetime. I hope that Mr. Mizuhara will be able to repay that sum. That remains to be seen.”
Despite Mizuhara’s defense, the judge ultimately sided with prosecutors, delivering a sentence in line with their 57-month recommendation—significantly harsher than the 18-month sentence Mizuhara’s lawyer had requested.
What’s Next for Mizuhara? Deportation Likely
While Mizuhara will serve nearly five years behind bars, his legal troubles don’t end there. As a Japanese citizen, he is expected to be deported after his release, which his attorney, Michael Freedman, argued would cause him “great scrutiny and shame” in his home country. Mizuhara was raised in Los Angeles and attended Diamond Bar High School, but legal experts believe he has little chance of avoiding removal.
How This Affects Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers
Ohtani, now one of the highest-paid athletes in sports history, has stayed silent on Mizuhara’s sentencing. His attorneys and representatives declined to comment after the hearing, signaling a desire to move forward and focus on baseball.
Mizuhara’s actions at the start of the season caused the Dodgers an unwanted distraction, but the team swiftly fired him. The scandal did not appear to impact Ohtani’s play, as he continued to dominate on the field, solidifying his status as MLB’s biggest star.
Fans remain relieved that Ohtani was the victim, not the culprit, in this scandal, but the betrayal by a trusted associate will likely stick with him for years to come.
Final Thoughts: A Cautionary Tale in MLB
Mizuhara’s downfall is a stunning cautionary tale about trust, addiction, and financial crime in professional sports. The Dodgers, Ohtani, and MLB will move on, but Mizuhara’s actions have left an indelible mark on the league’s history.
As Mizuhara prepares to serve his sentence, one question remains: Can he ever fully repay Shohei Ohtani and repair his shattered legacy? Only time will tell.
