Shohei Ohtani has been cleared of any wrongdoing in a fraud investigation, while his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $17 million from the baseball star.
Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' star player, has been cleared of any wrongdoing in an investigation into a multi-million dollar fraud scheme perpetrated by his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani's bank account.
Mizuhara pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. The bank fraud charge carries a maximum of 30 years in federal prison, while the false tax return charge carries a sentence of up to three years.
Mizuhara admitted to exploiting his relationship with Ohtani to access his bank account and wire money over a period of several years. He also impersonated Ohtani to bankers in order to conceal his actions.
When news of the fraud initially broke in March, there was speculation that Ohtani may have been involved in betting or knowingly paying a bookie. However, Ohtani maintained his innocence throughout the investigation.
Major League Baseball conducted its own investigation and concluded that Ohtani was a victim of the fraud. The league issued a statement saying, "MLB considers Shohei Ohtani a victim of fraud and this matter has been closed."
Ohtani expressed relief and gratitude for the completion of the investigation in a statement. He said, "This has been a uniquely challenging time, so I am especially grateful for my support team... who showed endless support throughout this process."
Mizuhara was ordered to pay Ohtani restitution that could total around $17 million and an additional $1 million to the IRS. He faces up to 33 years in federal prison for his crimes.
The Ohtani case comes amid a crackdown by MLB on gambling. Tucupita Marcano, a former Pittsburgh Pirates player, was handed a lifetime ban for betting over $150,000 on MLB games while on the injured list. Four other players received one-year suspensions for similar offenses.
The clearing of Ohtani underscores MLB's commitment to preventing and punishing fraud and gambling within the league. The case also serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting athletes from those who seek to exploit them.
