In a twist that might be considered more fitting for a daytime drama than the real world, Ippei Mizuhara, the man who has served as MLB phenom Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter and trusted day-to-day manager, has found himself at the center of a federal fraud storm. Mizuhara stands accused of pilfering more than a staggering $16 million from Ohtani’s bank accounts, reportedly to cover an ocean of gambling debts and to fund an extravagant hobby—collecting baseball cards.
The charges stem from a detailed 37-page complaint by federal prosecutors who accuse Mizuhara of indulging in bank fraud on a grand scale. According to the complaint, the funds were siphoned off surreptitiously to quench a burning addiction to gambling and to acquire an impressive array of baseball memorabilia. The prosecutors assert that Mizuhara utilized Ohtani’s accounts to snap up around 1,000 baseball cards from online marketplaces such as eBay and Whatnot. Operating under the pseudonym ‘Jay Min’, he allegedly averaged a spending of about $325 per card from earlier this year through to last month.
This elaborate scheme involved shipping some of these purchases to addresses associated with Mizuhara, including, intriguingly, to the Dodgers’ facilities where they were earmarked by a clubhouse employee to be set aside. Upon further investigation, authorities discovered a hoard more within Mizuhara’s vehicle, including cards featuring the likes of Juan Soto, Yogi Berra, and even Ohtani himself. These cards weren’t just tossed in the back seat but were carefully preserved in protective cases, signaling their intended use as collectibles.
The case against Mizuhara isn’t just about high-priced cardboard collectibles; it also throws a spotlight on his perilous plunge into gambling. The federal investigation unearthed Mizuhara’s virtual casino of despair, showcasing approximately 19,000 bets that culminated in a net loss of $40.7 million. Notably, these betting activities steered clear of Major League Baseball games, ensuring a narrow sidestep around potential conflicts of interest.
The intricacies of the banking fraud began to unravel when Mizuhara helped a linguistically challenged Ohtani navigate the complexities of financial set-up upon his U.S arrival in 2018. Despite Ohtani’s lack of authorization for Mizuhara to control his financial dealings, the interpreter allegedly exploited his position of trust, diverting vast sums into the abyss of his personal vices.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada has expressed vehement disapproval of Mizuhara’s conduct, emphasizing the sheer scope of the alleged fraud and the betrayal of trust involved. In a move that further complicates the interpreter’s saga, Mizuhara supposedly impersonated Ohtani to authorize wire transfers to individuals linked to his gambling activities. Currently cooperating with law enforcement, Ohtani has disclaimed any knowledge or consent of these dubious transactions.
Soon, Mizuhara will make his initial court appearance in downtown Los Angeles. There, dressed perhaps less flamboyantly than the baseball cards he purportedly cherished, he will face the music for the alleged orchestration of this $16 million financial symphony of deception. As for Ohtani, one imagines he’s looking forward to a return to simpler days, where the most complex signs he needs to interpret are those from his catcher, not his bank statements.
