Shohei Ohtani's Interpreter Charged with Stealing $16 Million
Ippei Mizuhara faces charges of bank fraud and embezzlement, having allegedly stolen millions from MLB star Shohei Ohtani to fuel a gambling addiction.
- Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, has been charged with felony bank fraud for allegedly embezzling over $16 million.
- Mizuhara made around 19,000 illegal bets, leading to a net gambling loss of over $40 million, according to federal investigators.
- The saga affected the early season for Ohtani, who expressed relief at the recent developments and wishes to focus on baseball.
- Mizuhara's gambling addiction was funded by unauthorized wire transfers from Ohtani's bank account, set up with Mizuhara's assistance.
- Ohtani continues to excel on the field, recently tying the record for the most major league home runs by a Japanese-born player.