Former interpreter of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for stealing nearly $17 million from the baseball player to pay off debts. The 57-month sentence includes three years of probation after release from prison.
Mizuhara’s actions were part of a scheme that also involved lying on tax records and falsifying income reports. He pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud charges, admitting to underreporting $4.1 million in income derived from the scheme. The stolen funds were used to pay off debts owed to a southern California bookmaker.
Ohtani initially confirmed his involvement with Mizuhara’s gambling addiction but later clarified that he was unaware of the full extent of the scheme. The MLB has strict rules against sports betting, and Ohtani’s career was threatened by the scandal.
Mizuhara apologized for his actions, saying he regretted betraying Ohtani’s trust and causing harm to those around him. A forensic psychiatrist evaluated Mizuhara’s gambling addiction before his sentencing, and his legal team argued for leniency due to his cooperation and efforts to address his struggles.
After serving nearly five years in prison, Mizuhara will be on three years of probation, including drug and alcohol testing and treatment for his gambling addiction.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd64gjv10v7o