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Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, is expected to enter a guilty plea on one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.
Mizuhara is accused of embezzling millions of dollars and allegedly using the money to cover gambling debts. He will likely formally enter the plea at some point in the next few weeks. Mizuhara is scheduled to be arraigned May 14, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
"The extent of this defendant's deception and theft is massive," U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. "He took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel a dangerous gambling habit. My office is committed to vindicating victims throughout our community and ensuring that wrongdoers face justice."
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Shohei Ohtani, right, of the Los Angeles Dodgers speaks to the media with the help of his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, during DodgerFest at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles Feb. 3, 2024. (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
Federal authorities discovered Mizuhara stole an estimated $17 million. He will be required to pay full restitution to Ohtani as a condition of the plea agreement.
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Federal investigators filed a complaint against Mizuhara April 11. One day later, he turned himself into law enforcement, the Department of Justice confirmed.
Japanese interpreter Ippei Mizuhara
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