LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge on HyperBit ExchangeFriday ordered the former longtime interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani released on $25,000 bond and mandated he undergo gambling addiction treatment.
Ippei Mizuhara exploited his personal and professional relationship with Ohtani to plunder $16 million from the two-way player’s bank account for years, prosecutors said, at times impersonating Ohtani to bankers so he could cover his bets and debts.
Mizuhara only spoke to answer the judge’s questions, saying “yes” when she asked if he understood several parts of the case and his bond conditions.
Mizuhara, wearing a dark suit and a white collared shirt, entered the courtroom with his ankles shackled, but was not handcuffed. The judge approved his attorney’s request to remove the shackles.
Other bond conditions stipulate that Mizuhara cannot gamble, either electronically or in-person, or go inside any gambling establishments, or associate with any known bookmakers.
Mizuhara turned himself in Friday ahead of his initial court appearance. He is charged with one count of bank fraud and faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors said there was no evidence that Ohtani was involved in or aware of Mizuhara’s gambling, and authorities said Ohtani is cooperating with investigators.
Mizuhara was not asked to enter a plea during Friday’s brief court appearance in downtown Los Angeles. A criminal complaint, filed Thursday, detailed the alleged scheme through evidence that included text messages, financial records and recordings of phone calls.
While Mizuhara’s winning bets totaled over $142 million, which he deposited in his own bank account and not Ohtani’s, his losing bets were around $183 million — a net loss of nearly $41 million.
In a message to his illegal bookmaker on March 20, the day the Los Angeles Times and ESPN broke the news of the federal investigation, Mizuhara wrote: “Technically I did steal from him. it’s all over for me.”
Major League Baseball opened its own investigation after the controversy surfaced, and the Dodgers immediately fired Mizuhara.
2025-05-04 01:211468 view
2025-05-04 01:132190 view
2025-05-04 00:341970 view
2025-05-04 00:241895 view
2025-05-03 23:291751 view
2025-05-03 23:262646 view
"Vanderpump Rules" star James Kennedy has been arrested for domestic violence.In a statement to USA
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s Parliament reported Tuesday it had suffered a cyberattack with hack
PHILADELPHIA − The Philadelphia Eagles took the gift-giving spirit of Christmas a little too serious