Former Shohei Ohtani performer Ippei Mizuhara has been charged with bank fraud after allegedly stealing more than $16 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player to pay off a gambling debt.
Federal authorities filed a complaint charging Mizuhara with bank fraud – punishable by a maximum fine of up to $1 million and/or up to 30 years in prison.
In the complaint, Ohtani – who was referred to only as a “professional baseball player” – informed authorities that he had not authorized the transfers.
Lawyers for Ohtani, who signed a $700 million contract with the Dodgers last winter, said he was the victim of “massive theft.”
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the complaint is “merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt before a court.
Former Shohei Ohtani performer Ippei Mizuhara has been charged with bank fraud after allegedly stealing more than $16 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player.
The release said a criminal investigation is underway by the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security.
In that statement, it is revealed that Ohtani told law enforcement that he denied authorizing Mizuhara’s wire transfers to pay his gambling debts.
Ohtani turned over his cell phone to law enforcement, “who determined that there was no evidence to suggest that Ohtani was aware of or involved in Mizuhara’s illegal gambling activities or the payment of these debts “.
“In September 2021, Mizuhara began gambling on an illegal sports betting site and, several months later, began losing substantial amounts of money,” the statement said.
“During this time, Ohtani’s bank account details were allegedly altered to link the account to Mizuhara’s phone number and an anonymous email address connected to Mizuhara.”
Authorities also allege that Mizuhara allegedly called Ohtani’s bank and falsely identified himself as Ohtani to “coax bank employees into authorizing wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank account to associates of the banking operation.” illegal gambling”.
Pictured: Martin Estrada, United States Attorney for the Central District of California
Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers while in Korea when the theft was initially revealed
Mizuhara was fired by the LA Dodgers last month after Ohtani’s lawyers accused him of theft.
Initial reports indicated that Mizuhara was accused of stealing $4.5 million, but the amount he is now accused of is much larger.
Mizuhara is not accused of playing baseball, the U.S. attorney said.
dailymail us
