The long-time interpreter and friend of Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison upon being convicted of bank and tax fraud after admittedly stealing $17 million from the Dodgers superstar.
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BREAKING: Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was sentenced to almost five years in prison, per @Alden_Gonzalez. pic.twitter.com/Z8tYN8RSVd
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 6, 2025
On top of his four year and nine month prison sentence, Ippei has also been ordered to pay $18 million in restitutions ($17 million for Shohei and $1 million for IRS/court fees).
Ippei Mizuhara entering court today before his sentencing. pic.twitter.com/2JmHtYOck1
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) February 6, 2025
For those who don't know, Ippei had stolen money from Ohtani's bank account in an attempt to pay off his immense gambling debt. Overall, he made 19,000 illegal bets, with losses totaling $40 million.
Over the span of two years, from when Shohei was playing for the LA Angels, Ippei admitted to fraudulently transferring nearly $17 million, and even impersonated the baseball star on phone calls with the bank.
NEW: The Athletic has obtained the audio recording of Ippei Mizuhara impersonating Shohei Ohtani in a phone call to the bank.
Full phone call in the link ⤵️https://t.co/l0ueS1uz0M https://t.co/1X5aH6Sd0i pic.twitter.com/plwsV6IGbV
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 24, 2025
"My gambling debt had grown so much that I could not find any way to pay it but to use Shohei's money," Ippei said in a statement. "I felt terribly guilty about putting my hands on his money but this was the only solution I could think of at the time."
Ippei initially sought sympathy from the judge, hoping to reduce his prison sentence to 18 months.
"I definitely feel like I had a terrible addiction at the time and I only saw hope in life while I was gambling..."
"I understand that I have made a decision that will impact my entire life and I am not making excuses for what I have done," Ippei said. "I am not trying to justify my actions in any way. I am asking that you will look at me as a man and believe change can happen. I don't believe an apology will fix my wrong. I am prepared [to] accept my consequences. I am asking for a little mercy from the court concerning my sentence you will hand down."
All in all, his prison sentencing will begin on March 24, and after serving his 57-month sentence, he will also be ordered three years of supervised release and then more than likely be deported back to Japan.
Ippei will be 44 years old upon being released from prison.
