- Written by Yaroslav Lukiv
- bbc news
image source, USA Today Sports
A former interpreter for Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to US charges that he illegally transferred around $17 million (about £14 million) from the player’s bank account.
Under the agreement between Ippei Mizuhara and Los Angeles prosecutors, Ippei Mizuhara will plead guilty to charges of bank fraud and filing false tax returns.
Prosecutors allege he used the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s money to pay off his own debts.
News of this incident broke in March and shocked baseball fans in Japan and the United States.
“The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is egregious,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “He used his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel his dangerous gambling habits.”
Prosecutors claim that Mizuhara, 39, called a bank official and “falsely introduced himself.” [Mr] Ohtani tricks employees into allowing wire transfers [Mr] Otani’s bank account was addressed to a person involved in illegal gambling activities. ”
Mr. Mizuhara also allegedly purchased $325,000 worth of baseball cards between January and March of this year using money withdrawn from Mr. Otani’s account.
Bank fraud charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and filing false tax returns carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
According to the agreement, prosecutors will recommend a reduced sentence in exchange for Mizuhara’s plea. He plans to file a petition in the coming weeks.
He was fired in March when news of the allegations surfaced. At the time, Otani, 29, said he was “sad and shocked” that someone he trusted “did something like this.”
Ohtani signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers before this season, becoming the face of the sports franchise. He had just won his second American League MVP award unanimously.
His ability to translate Otani’s comments into colloquial English was widely admired in Japan.
