Ohtani's ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara sentenced to 4 years, 9 months in prison

The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani was sentenced Thursday to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly $17 million US from the Los Angeles Dodgers player's bank account.

Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal court in Santa Ana after pleading guilty last year.

He was ordered Thursday to pay $18 million in restitution, with nearly $17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the IRS. He was also sentenced to three years' supervised release on top of the prison sentence and ordered to surrender to authorities by March 24.

"The magnitude of the theft — $17 million — in my view, is shockingly high," U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb said upon issuing the sentence.

Holcomb said most people don't make that much money in their lifetime.

"I hope that Mr. Mizuhara will be able to repay that sum," Holcomb said. "That remains to be seen."

Mizuhara addressed the court and apologized to Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the government and his family.

"I am truly, deeply sorry for what I have done," Mizuhara said. "I am prepared to be punished for it."

Mizuhara has acknowledged using the money to cover his growing gambling bets and debts with an illegal bookmaker, in addition to $325,000 worth of baseball cards and his own dental bills.

His attorney declined to comment after the hearing.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally told reporters after the hearing that Mizuhara took advantage of Ohtani's vulnerability as a non-English speaking person trying to navigate the world of celebrity baseball — a high-profile example of something that is