After two postponements, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was officially sent to federal prison on Monday to begin a 57-month sentence. This close associate of Ohtani, who embezzled about $17 million to pay off gambling debts, has been incarcerated.
According to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, Mizuhara arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution Allenwood in Pennsylvania at noon on the 17th. This minimum-security prison is located about 75 miles north of Harrisburg.
This case has shocked the American sports community. Investigations revealed that Mizuhara, unbeknownst to Ohtani, was deeply involved in illegal sports betting, placing over 19,000 bets with a well-known underground betting operator, Matt Bower, totaling up to $325 million. Despite some returns, the net loss amounted to $40.2 million.
More seriously, to continue accessing funds, Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani at least 20 times, calling banks to fraudulently transfer funds or handle financial transactions. In a phone recording released by federal prosecutors, Mizuhara even falsely claimed to pay for a car loan via wire transfer in Ohtani's name.
In February 2024, when Mizuhara appeared in court for sentencing, he expressed remorse to Judge John Holcomb and requested leniency, stating, "I am deeply aware that my actions have betrayed Shohei's trust and brought shame to my family," and requested to serve his sentence in California to be closer to his family. However, the court ultimately decided to incarcerate him in Allenwood, Pennsylvania. The reasons for the postponement of his reporting date have not yet been disclosed in court documents.
Mizuhara was born in Hokkaido, Japan, moved to Southern California in his early years, and later returned to Japan to work as an interpreter for the Nippon Ham Fighters, where he met and formed a deep friendship with the then-young Ohtani. After Ohtani moved to the U.S., Mizuhara served as his interpreter and personal assistant, earning his trust until the scandal broke in 2024.
The federal prosecutors pointed out that Mizuhara's addiction to gambling was not a recent development, and his long-term control over Ohtani's financial accounts was a significant factor that allowed this major financial crime to continue.
It is worth noting that Allenwood Prison, where Mizuhara is serving his sentence, has previously housed several well-known white-collar criminals, including Watergate figure and former President Nixon's aide Magruder, and the infamous "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli, who was transferred to this prison for using a cellphone in violation of prison rules.
On the day Mizuhara was incarcerated, coincidentally, Shohei Ohtani made his first start for the Dodgers after recovering from elbow surgery. Major League Baseball has already stated that Ohtani had no misconduct in the entire affair.
Mizuhara's inmate number at the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons is 09459-511. After serving his sentence, he may face deportation back to Japan. Attempts to contact his defense attorney, Michael Friedman, on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
