IPPEI Mizuhara, former Shohei Ohtani performer, has been sentenced to almost five years in prison for stealing around $ 17 million for the Los Angeles Dodgers star to pay the game debts.
Federal prosecutors were looking for a four -year and nine -month prison sentence for Mizuhara, who was supposed to close the gap between Ohtani and his teammates and English -speaking teams while the duo was traveling from southern California to the stages of baseballs in the United States.
But Mizuhara exploded the Japanese-English language barrier to isolate Ohtani and benefited from his proximity to the power of the bidirectional player.
On Thursday, the United States District Judge, John W. Holcomb, issued a sentence of 57 months and three years of supervised liberation. He also ordered him to pay almost $ 17 million in restitution to Ohtani and $ 1.1 million to the IRS.
“I mean that I really feel for Mr. Ohtani for what I have done,” said Mizuhara in court, through ESPN.
Facing up to 33 years in prison, Mizuhara appeared in a federal court in the city of Santa Ana in Orange County, where he declared himself guilty last year of bank and fiscal fraud. Mizuhara was accused of stealing money to cover his growing game bets and debts with an illegal betting house, in addition to $ 325,000 on baseball cards and his own dental bills.
IPPEI Mizuhara arrives for its sentence to the Federal Building of Ronald Reagan in California
Ipei Mizuhara (right) exploded the Japanese-English language barrier to isolate Shohei Ohtani and benefits from its proximity to the power of the bidirectional player, according to prosecutors
His lawyer, Michael G. Freedman, said he hopes Mizuhara, a Japanese citizen, is deported.
The case possibly affected the most famous baseball player in the world, which he previously launched for the Angels of Los Angeles of Anaheim, and fueled a frenzy of international media. It was derived from a broader investigation into illegal sports betting organizations in southern California and income washing through casinos in Las Vegas that has noted a dozen defendants.
“His robbery of a year of Mr. Ohtani and the myriad of lies that he told the agents and financial advisors of Mr. Ohtani to cover up his robbery represent a calculated betrayal of the person who was hired to help,” the prosecutors in court in court in court.
Mizuhara's lawyer had requested an 18 -month sentence, citing the long addiction to the interpreter's game.
'Mister. Mizuhara's addiction was drastic, “Freedman said in the Court. 'Astronomical sums were involved.'
In a letter to the court, Mizuhara described his financial tension and his game addiction, which he hoped would relieve his money problems. He also professed his admiration for Ohtani and his remorse.
“I am asking for some mercy from the Court about my prayer, which you will deliver,” Mizuhara wrote. 'I really admire Shohei as a baseball player and a human being and was committed to dedicating my life so that Shohei can be the best version of himself in the field. I mean that I really sorry to violate your trust in me.
Federal researchers believe that Mizuhara won $ 142 million in 19,000 bets between September 2021 and January 2024. However, these profits were deposited in their own account, while Mizuhara used Ohtani's to cover their losses, which totaled around $ 183 million, a difference of $ 41 million of $ 41 million.
Bowyer, on the left, a betting house in southern California, arrives with his lawyer, Diane Bass in August
Mizuhara faces up to 33 years in prison and will be sentenced in California on Thursday
The researchers found no evidence that Mizuhara bet on baseball, nor could they demonstrate that Ohtani was even aware of the robbery, much less the game.
One of Mizuhara's betting runners, Mathew Bowyer, never asked Mizuhara directly if he was really doing bets for Ohtani, but said he could say that the translator was becoming rogue.
“It was very obvious after a time that was stealing money and did not ask Ohtani permission,” Bowyer told New York PostAdding that Mizuhara connected $ 500,000 every two weeks in a moment.
'He never acted as if the amounts in dollars impacted him for a second. He was very educated and so respectful, “Bowyer said.
Mizuhara agreed to Ohtani's account from 2021 and changed his security protocols to be able to impede wire transfers. By 2024, Mizuhara had used the money to buy around $ 325,000 on baseball cards in online resellers and had bet tens of millions of dollars that were not theirs to bet on international football, NBA, NFL and university football .
Prosecutors said Mizuhara never opted for baseball, and Ohtani was an unknown victim of the scheme.
“There is no doubt, Mr. Ohtani is really a victim and has suffered, and will continue to suffer, for damage to the defendant's conduct,” prosecutors wrote.
Michael G. Freedman, Mizuhara's lawyer, wrote in the judicial presentations that his client is a game addict that made a “terrible mistake” and has suffered a loss of work and reputation. Mizuhara assumes the responsibility of his actions and hopes to be deported to his native Japan after fulfilling the time, Freedman wrote while requested a sentence of a year and a half.
Mizuhara was born in Japan and moved to California with his parents when he was 6 years old. He struggled to learn English but finally did it, and returned to Japan in 2013 to become an interpreter of a Japanese baseball team and then for Ohtani, according to the court, according to the court. filings.
The two formed a very close link, and Mizuhara moved with Ohtani in 2018 to the United States, where he assumed numerous errands for the player as the purchases of groceries, Freedman wrote.
Within baseball, Mizuhara was next to Ohtani for many of the most prominent aspects of the athlete's career, from serving as his receiver during the home run in the 2021 star game, until he was there for his two MVP victories of the American League and its $ 700 record of $ 700 million, 10 years according to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Outside the countryside, Mizuhara was the friend and confidant of Ohtani. He renounced Los Angeles Angels during the 2021 MLB block to continue talking with Ohtani, and was understood after an agreement was reached.
Last year, Ohtani and the Dodgers won the World Series, and the baseball won their third most valuable player prize.