Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter of Shohei Ohtani, pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing nearly $17 million from the Dodgers superstar.
Mizuhara, 39, originally pleaded not guilty as a formality to bank fraud and false tax return charges before a federal magistrate judge three weeks ago. But U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb accepted his guilty plea Tuesday after Mizuhara signed an agreement with prosecutors.
Prosecutors say Mizuhara illegally transferred millions from Ohtani’s bank account to pay off his own substantial gambling debts during about half of the six years they worked together. Mizuhara took advantage of his unique relationship as the communications middleman for Ohtani, even changing his account information and impersonating the two-time MVP to bankers, prosecutors added.
Mizuhara is now set to be sentenced on Oct. 25, the Associated Press reported. He’s facing up to 33 years in federal prison between both counts.
What happened at the hearing
According to the Associated Press, Mizuhara spoke briefly during the roughly 45-minute hearing to acknowledge his guilt.
“I worked for victim A and had access to his bank account and had fallen into major gambling debt,” Mizuhara told the court, referring to Ohtani. “I went ahead and wired money … with his bank account.”
Mizuhara will be required to pay restitution to Ohtani and the IRS, but the amounts could change in the months before sentencing.
Ohtani said in a statement after the hearing that the full admission of guilt has brought important closure to him and his family.
“This has been a uniquely challenging time, so I am especially grateful for my support team – my…
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