Shohei Ohtani’s Former Interpreter Facing Charges for Alleged Theft of $16 Million
A previous member of Shohei Ohtani‘s team has been accused of stealing millions from him.
The ex-interpreter of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ippei Mizuhara was federally charged with bank fraud on April 11 for allegedly taking $16 million from the athlete, as per an affidavit obtained by E! News.
Mizuhara, who started working with Ohtani in 2013 to help him learn English, reportedly gained access to his client’s money when Ohtani moved to the U.S. from Japan in 2018. The interpreter allegedly became Ohtani’s de facto manager by aiding in the setup of a bank account. As reported by NBC News during an April 11 press conference.
However, Mizuhara’s involvement in illegal sports gambling led him to exclude Ohtani’s agent, financial advisor, and accountant from the 29-year-old’s online finances. The affidavit claims that Mizuhara transferred over $16 million from Ohtani’s account to his own bank without authorization between November 2021 and January 2024.