Shohei Ohtani's Former Interpreter Begins Serving Federal Prison Sentence
Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter and friend of Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani, has begun serving his 57-month federal prison sentence. This week, Mizuhara turned himself in at the Allenwood Low Federal Correctional Facility in Allenwood, Penn.
The 40-year-old Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank fraud and falsely filing his tax return regarding two charges related to a scheme draining almost $17 million from Ohtani's bank account—money he used for gambling.
In court, it was discovered that Mizuhara gambled $300 million and lost almost $41 million. At his sentencing, Mizuhara freely admitted to a severe gambling addiction and apologized for his actions.
Although he asked for leniency and claimed to have acted out of the desperation of addiction, U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb was unsparing. The judge agreed with federal prosecutors' recommendation of 57 months' sentencing and handed Mizuhara the maximum.
While his prison term was initially set to start in March, Mizuhara was granted several extensions, which permitted him to postpone surrendering. The court did not give the public an explanation for the delays.
Mizuhara had hoped to spend his sentence at a Southern California prison near his home and place of business. However, the Federal Bureau of Prisons assigned him to Pennsylvania instead.
From MLB stripes to prison stripes
Mizuhara had been a fixture alongside Ohtani since the Japanese player entered MLB, not only serving as his interpreter but also as a friend. That friendship ended last March 2024 when internal probes by the Dodgers uncovered financial wrongdoing. The club terminated Mizuhara right away following the revelations. Federal charges later followed in April.
Investigators concluded that Mizuhara secretly logged into Ohtani's bank accounts without the player's approval or knowledge, withdrawing large amounts to fund illicit sports bets. Mizuhara is charged with making bets with Mathew Bowyer, an illegal bookmaker facing legal issues.
Bowyer is also featured in a second criminal complaint involving supposed activity at high-end Las Vegas casinos run by Resorts World and MGM Resorts, the official partner of the Dodgers rivals, the New York Yankees.
Mizuhara, a Japanese citizen and US permanent resident, will probably be deported after he is freed from prison. Despite living much of his life in the US, he has never relinquished Japanese citizenship.
Ohtani is not involved in the scandal. Prosecutors and investigators have confirmed that the Dodgers' star had no knowledge of the theft and did not approve any financial transactions.
