Ohtani's Former Interpreter Involved in Multi-Million Dollar Scandal
Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, is at the centre of a scandal, having embezzled close to $17 million. Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani in a fraud attempt, and awaits sentencing.
Shohei Ohtani had the best season of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. However, his name was tarnished when a scandal broke out involving his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
The baseball world learned that Mizuhara had embezzled millions from Ohtani. Following a trial, speculation regarding Ohtani's involvement in gambling was invalidated as Mizuhara was held accountable for his offences.
Eventually, Ohtani and the Dodgers moved past the betting scandal and won the World Series title. Nevertheless, discussions about the incident have resurfaced with new revelations. Recently, concerning audio footage surfaced, suggesting Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani in a fraudulent attempt to access $200,000.
The audio begins with a bank employee inquiring, "Who am I speaking with?" Mizuhara identifies himself as Ohtani, claiming he cannot log in to his bank account. He stated, "So I tried to login to online banking and it told me that's not available to me at this time."
Mizuhara stands accused of stealing close to $17 million from the Dodgers star. Ohtani expressed his shock, stating he was unaware of Mizuhara's actions until he learned of the theft. Mizuhara has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing on February 6.
Former U.S. Attorney Jeff Mitchell obtained the recording from the bank. Prosecutors are advocating for a minimum five-year prison sentence for Mizuhara, who is also expected to face a $1 million penalty. Reports indicate that Mizuhara squandered most of the funds on gambling and collecting baseball cards, betting on various sports including NBA, NFL, College Football, and International Soccer.
In contrast, Shohei Ohtani has been exonerated and is now concentrating on winning additional championships. He set records with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, and is ready to commence pitching for the upcoming season.
The Dodgers star aims for another stellar season with the team, while MLB rumours abound regarding top free agents like Jurickson Profar potentially changing teams.
