Ippei Mizuhara
Bank call audio reveals Ohtani impersonation
Published
Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuharaposed as an MLB superstar in a phone call to a bank in an attempt to defraud the Dodgers' designated hitter out of $200,000 … newly released audio shows.
The three-and-a-half-minute conversation was released by federal prosecutors on Thursday, and in it… one can clearly hear Mizuhara pretending to be Shohei.
After the bank operator directly asks Mizuhara, “Who am I talking to?”, Ippei says without hesitation, “Shohei Ohtani.”
During the call, Ippei says he is trying to transfer $200,000 to a friend for a car loan. The bank operator makes several attempts to ensure that it is the real Ohtani on the other end, and Mizuhara seems to pass all the tests.
He was able to find a six-digit code that she had sent to a phone number in the account file. He was also able to provide realistic-sounding answers about who was the recipient of the $200,000 he wanted transferred from Ohtani's account.
The FBI agents actually say that Mizuhara took Ohtani's funds to pay off gambling debts he had accumulated with a bookmaker.
Overall, the FBI agents say Mizuhara stole millions from Ohtani over the years he worked with him with the Angels and then the Dodgers.
Mizuhara struck a deal with prosecutors in the case in June in which he admitted the theft and also admitted tax fraud. In a court filing Thursday, federal authorities said they would recommend a judge give him a 57-month prison sentence for the crimes.
He is due in court on February 6th for sentencing.