Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara sentenced to almost five years for defrauding Shohei Ohtani

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter found guilty of defrauding Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, was sentenced to 57 months in prison by a federal judge during a hearing at Orange County Superior Court on Thursday.https://svtoday.org/

As Judge John W. Holcomb delivered the sentence—which also includes three years of supervised release and over $18 million in restitution to Ohtani and the Internal Revenue Service—Mizuhara remained silent and showed no visible reaction.

The sentence matched the government’s pre-sentencing recommendation, whereas Mizuhara had requested an 18-month term after pleading guilty in June to bank fraud and filing a false tax return.

Judge Holcomb cited Mizuhara’s pre-sentencing letter as a contributing factor in his decision, stating that it contained “misrepresentations and omissions.” He dismissed its credibility outright, saying, “I give it no credit.”

During the hearing, Mizuhara made a brief statement, expressing remorse to Ohtani, his family, the Dodgers, and the U.S. government. “I beg your mercy, and I promise I will make the most of it,” he told the judge.

Following the sentencing, Mizuhara declined to comment. He is required to report to an as-yet-undetermined prison by noon on March 24. He has requested to serve his sentence in Southern California.

At 40 years old, Mizuhara had no friends or family present at the hearing, though several individuals submitted letters on his behalf.

Ohtani, who was not in attendance, provided a victim impact statement under seal, a right granted to victims who wish to keep their statements private.

Holcomb’s ruling marks the conclusion of an 11-month saga that shook the baseball world at the start of the 2024 season. Mizuhara had been Ohtani’s interpreter, personal assistant, home run derby catcher, and close confidant for over a decade, dating back to Ohtani’s time with the Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2013.

However, their professional relationship ended in March when Mizuhara was dismissed by the Dodgers amid allegations of financial misconduct. At the time, the team was in South Korea for the season opener against the Padres. Initially, Mizuhara claimed Ohtani had willingly lent him money to settle gambling debts.

That story soon unraveled. Prosecutors later revealed that Mizuhara had placed bets worth hundreds of millions of dollars through an illegal bookmaker and had stolen money to cover his losses. Investigators found that he had accessed one of Ohtani’s bank accounts to pay off a gambling debt exceeding $40.6 million.

In audio recordings obtained by The Athletic in January through the Department of Justice, Mizuhara could be heard impersonating Ohtani while calling the bank in an attempt to transfer $200,000 from the player’s account. He had made multiple such calls and even created fake email addresses to pose as Ohtani.

In his pre-sentencing letter, Mizuhara portrayed himself as overworked and “severely underpaid,” claiming that Ohtani relied on him for daily tasks throughout most of the year. He also admitted to struggling with a gambling addiction.

“Although I always told myself I would win it all back, as it became clear that was impossible, I think I just shut down,” Mizuhara wrote in a letter dated Jan. 23. “But that didn’t stop me from placing more bets. I felt really antsy and anxious when I didn’t have an active bet. I felt pressure to stay in the game.”

Judge Holcomb pressed Mizuhara and his attorney, Michael Freedman, about omissions in his letter—particularly the failure to mention that Ohtani had covered Mizuhara’s rent, frequently tipped him five-figure amounts, gifted him a Porsche, and paid for him and his wife to travel internationally.

Prosecutors also pointed out that Mizuhara never attempted to repay Ohtani and continued to pocket winnings while stealing from the athlete to cover his losses. The judge ultimately rejected Mizuhara’s claim that he was living “paycheck to paycheck,” noting that he consistently had money in his bank account.

Freedman acknowledged that parts of Mizuhara’s letter were “poorly worded.” While both the defense and prosecutors agreed that Mizuhara had taken full responsibility for his actions, Holcomb disputed Freedman’s assertion that his client had immediately confessed. The judge referenced an ESPN article that first broke the scandal, in which Mizuhara falsely claimed that Ohtani was aware of his gambling problem and had helped him pay off his debts.

“Why is he not giving me the full picture?” Holcomb asked.

The judge also rejected Freedman’s argument that the large sum stolen should not be a major factor in sentencing, given the case’s unique circumstances. Prosecutors countered that Mizuhara had been given extensive credit from bookmaker Matthew Bowyer due to his close ties to Ohtani. In the end, the amount stolen did play a role in the final sentencing decision.

Prosecutor Jeff Mitchell reinforced the government’s position that Mizuhara had not shown true remorse. “Instead of displaying genuine regret,” the government stated in a Jan. 30 filing, “the defendant appears to be justifying the theft of millions from Mr. Ohtani.”

Both sides anticipate that Mizuhara will eventually be deported to Japan. Though he is a legal permanent resident of the U.S. and grew up in Southern California, his felony conviction could lead to deportation proceedings, though that decision will not be made until after he serves his sentence.

Outside the courthouse, acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally emphasized the significance of the case. “The sentence, both in terms of prison time and restitution, reflects the gravity of this offense and sends a strong message to others who might consider engaging in similar conduct,” he stated.

“This case is just a high-profile example of something that happens all too often—someone abuses the trust placed in them for personal gain.”