Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for MLB star Shohei Ohtani, was sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison for stealing almost $17 million from the player. Mizuhara, 40, admitted to transferring funds from Ohtani’s account over two years to pay off gambling debts. This involved impersonating Ohtani during numerous calls to the bank. On Thursday, the court handed down a 57-month sentence for bank fraud and a concurrent 36-month sentence for submitting a false tax return.
Mizuhara’s actions were described as part of a “deep” and “extensive” scheme, and prosecutors stated that Ohtani was “substantially harmed” by the fraud. In addition to his prison sentence, Mizuhara was ordered to pay restitution, including nearly $17 million to Ohtani, over $1 million to the IRS, and various court fines. He is also set to serve three years of supervised release and faces the possibility of deportation to Japan after completing his federal sentence.
Mizuhara, who is free on bond, made a brief statement in court, expressing his remorse and apologizing to Ohtani, the Dodgers, and the government. His attorney argued that Mizuhara’s financial stress led him to commit the fraud, but the judge pointed out that Ohtani had provided Mizuhara with generous benefits, including five-figure tips and a Porsche. The judge also noted that Mizuhara had significant personal savings when he started stealing from Ohtani.
Ahead of the sentencing, Mizuhara submitted a letter to the judge in which he described the pressures leading to his crime. He detailed his addiction to illegal gambling and his guilt over using Ohtani’s money. Mizuhara said he was unaware of the gambling site’s legality and hoped his experience would serve as a cautionary tale for others facing similar issues. Despite his apology, Mizuhara accepted the consequences of his actions and sought leniency in his sentencing.
