Former Shohei Ohtani performer Ippei Mizuhara was released on $25,000 bail and ordered to undergo treatment for gambling addiction after appearing in court on charges he stole $16 million dollars to the MLB star.
Former Shohei Ohtani performer Ippei Mizuhara was released on $25,000 bail and order undergo treatment for gambling addiction after appearing in court accused of stealing $16 million from the Dodgers star to cover his debts.
The 39-year-old man, who surrendered to authorities earlier Friday, did not enter a plea during the proceeding in downtown Los Angeles. He apologized through an attorney and was ordered to return for an arraignment on May 9.
Mizuhara is charged with one count of bank fraud and faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if convicted.
Wearing a dark suit and white shirt, he entered the courtroom with his ankles shackled before the judge approved his lawyer’s request to remove them.
Mizuhara is accused of moving the funds without Ohtani’s knowledge to an illegal sports gambling operation. According to the federal affidavit, Mizuhara began gambling with the illegal book in late 2021, losing substantial amounts of money.
Former Shohei Ohtani interpreter Ippei Mizuhara appeared in court in Los Angeles on Friday.
Mizuhara’s attorney, Michael Freedman, released a statement saying his client “wishes to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and his family.”
To cover his debts, Mizuhara posed as Ohtani on the phone to “deceive and deceive” bank employees by authorizing wire transfers from Ohtani’s account, where the player’s baseball salary was deposited, the report says. affidavit.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria A. Audero also ordered Mizuhara released on $25,000 unsecured bail, meaning Mizuhara does not have to post money or collateral to be released. If he violates his bail conditions, he will have to pay $25,000.
Mizuhara’s attorney, Michael Freedman, released a statement saying his client “wishes to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and his family.”
“He continues to cooperate with the legal process and hopes to be able to reach an agreement with the government to resolve this matter as quickly as possible so that it can meet its responsibilities,” Freedman said. The comment suggested Mizuhara was negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors.
Mizuhara accused of stealing $16 million from Dodgers star to cover debts
The hearing came a day after prosecutors indicted Mizuhara and publicly exonerated Ohtani in a case that threatened to entangle the Dodgers, MLB and a power pitcher considered a national hero in his home country.
“For me personally, this marks a break from that, and I would like to focus on baseball,” Ohtani said Friday, as quoted by the Los Angeles Times, in his first public comments since his former interpreter was indicted.
Other bail conditions state that Mizuhara cannot gamble, whether electronically or in person, nor enter a gambling establishment, nor associate with a known bookmaker.
While Mizuhara’s winning bets totaled more than $142 million, which he deposited into his own bank account and not Ohtani’s, his losing bets totaled approximately $183 million, or a net loss of nearly $41 million.
