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The former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, is now serving time in federal prison after pleading guilty to stealing nearly $17 million from the MLB star. The money was used to cover gambling debts tied to an illegal betting operation.
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On Monday, Mizuhara surrendered to authorities and entered the Federal Correctional Institution Allenwood-Low in Pennsylvania. The sentence stems from a guilty plea in June 2024, where he admitted to committing bank and tax fraud. A federal judge had initially postponed his reporting date, though the reason remains sealed. Furthermore, Mizahura had missed his last deadline to report as well.
Mizuhara, a Japanese citizen who spent his youth in California, is also facing deportation following his release, according to his attorney.
Mizuhara had been Ohtani’s interpreter and close companion since their time together in Japan. When they moved to the U.S., Mizuhara gained access to Ohtani’s bank account and impersonated him to make unauthorized transfers. He regularly moved $500,000 every two weeks to pay off debts.
Authorities said Mizuhara used the stolen funds to settle part of a $40 million debt owed to illegal bookmaker Matthew Bowyer, who is awaiting sentencing. Investigators also found he had active accounts with legal sportsbooks and placed nearly 20,000 wagers over two years.
In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice disclosed that Mizuhara had bet nearly $183 million, ending with a net loss of over $40 million. Mizuhara claimed to suffer from a gambling addiction and had requested an 18-month sentence, but prosecutors pushed back on that claim.
Along with his prison time, Mizuhara must repay millions to both Ohtani and the IRS. Speaking earlier this year, he said, “I want to say I’m truly sorry to Mr. Ohtani for what I have done. This mistake will impact me for the rest of my life, and I am prepared to accept the consequences.”