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|birth_date = December 31, 1984
|birth_date = December 31, 1984
|birth_place = Hokkaido, Japan
|birth_place = Hokkaido, Japan
|charges = Bank fraud, Filing a false tax return
|residence = Diamond Bar, California
|sentence = 57 months
|charges = Bank fraud (1 count), Subscribing to a false tax return (1 count)
|facility = Federal prison
|conviction_date = June 4, 2024
|sentence = 57 months federal prison, 3 years supervised release
|sentencing_date = February 6, 2025
|restitution = $18,124,410
|judge = Hon. John W. Holcomb
|case_number = 8:24-cr-00041 (C.D. Cal.)
|facility = FCI Allenwood Low
|status = Incarcerated
|status = Incarcerated
|occupation = Former baseball interpreter
}}
}}
'''Ippei Mizuhara''' (born December 31, 1984) is a former Major League Baseball interpreter who was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for stealing nearly $17 million from baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani to cover gambling debts.<ref name="doj-sentence">U.S. Department of Justice, "Former Interpreter Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Prison for Illegally Transferring Nearly $17 Million from Baseball Star's Bank Account," February 2025, https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-interpreter-sentenced-nearly-5-years-prison-illegally-transferring-nearly-17.</ref> Mizuhara served as Ohtani's personal interpreter from 2017, when Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Angels, through March 2024, when he was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers after the theft was discovered. During that time, Mizuhara became one of the most recognizable figures in baseball, appearing alongside Ohtani at press conferences, during games, and even serving as his catcher during the 2021 Home Run Derby.<ref name="espn-sentence">ESPN, "Ippei Mizuhara sentenced to 57 months for stealing from Shohei Ohtani," February 2025, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43721275/mizuhara-sentenced-57-months-prison-ohtani-fraud.</ref> His spectacular fall from grace became one of the biggest scandals in modern sports history, exposing the dangers of gambling addiction and the vulnerability of athletes who place deep trust in their closest associates.


== Summary ==
'''Ippei Mizuhara''' (born December 31, 1984) is a former Major League Baseball interpreter. For most of a decade he worked beside Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani. In 2024 federal prosecutors charged him with draining roughly $17 million from Ohtani's bank account. The money went to an illegal sports bookmaker. Mizuhara pleaded guilty in June 2024 to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return.<ref name="doj-sentence">U.S. Department of Justice, "Former Interpreter Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Prison for Illegally Transferring Nearly $17 Million from Baseball Star's Bank Account," February 2025, https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-interpreter-sentenced-nearly-5-years-prison-illegally-transferring-nearly-17.</ref>


The Ippei Mizuhara case shocked the sports world and revealed how a trusted confidant could systematically exploit a superstar athlete. Over approximately two and a half years, Mizuhara placed at least 19,000 bets through an illegal bookmaking operation, wagering approximately $325-326 million on sports events around the world. His winning bets totaled about $142 million, but his losing bets exceeded $182 million, leaving him with a net loss of more than $40 million.<ref name="cbs-sentence">CBS Sports, "Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, sentenced to 57 months in prison and must pay $18.1M," February 2025, https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/shohei-ohtanis-former-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-sentenced-to-57-months-in-prison-and-must-pay-18-1m/.</ref>
A federal judge sentenced him on February 6, 2025, to 57 months in prison. That is four years and nine months. The court also ordered him to pay more than $18 million in restitution, most of it back to Ohtani.<ref name="doj-sentence" /> He reported to a federal prison in central Pennsylvania in June 2025.<ref name="igb-reports">iGaming Business, "Ohtani's ex-interpreter reports to federal prison for gambling-related crimes," June 2025, https://igamingbusiness.com/sports-betting/ohtani-former-interpreter-reports-prison/.</ref>


To cover his losses, Mizuhara exploited his access to Ohtani's finances. He changed the security settings on Ohtani's bank account, including the registered phone number and email address, so that bank employees would contact him instead of Ohtani when verifying transactions. He then impersonated Ohtani on approximately 24 calls with the bank to authorize wire transfers to the bookmaker. Federal prosecutors made clear that Ohtani was entirely a victim who never gambled or knew his money was being stolen.<ref name="doj-sentence" />
Mizuhara had been Ohtani's interpreter since 2013, first in Japan and then across the player's move to the United States. He became a familiar face at press conferences and in the dugout. He caught for Ohtani during the 2021 Home Run Derby.<ref name="espn-sentence">ESPN, "Ippei Mizuhara sentenced to 57 months for stealing from Shohei Ohtani," February 2025, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43721275/mizuhara-sentenced-57-months-prison-ohtani-fraud.</ref> Federal authorities determined that Ohtani never gambled and did not know his account was being looted.<ref name="doj-sentence" />


== Background ==
== Background ==
Line 20: Line 26:
=== Early Life ===
=== Early Life ===


Ippei Mizuhara was born on December 31, 1984, in Hokkaido, Japan. In 1991, when he was seven years old, his family moved to Southern California so his father, Hidemasa, a chef, could work there. Mizuhara was raised in Diamond Bar, a city in eastern Los Angeles County, where he attended Chaparral Middle School and Diamond Bar High School, graduating in 2003.<ref name="wiki-mizuhara">Wikipedia, "Ippei Mizuhara," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ippei_Mizuhara.</ref>
Mizuhara was born on December 31, 1984, in Hokkaido, Japan. His family moved to Southern California in 1991. His father, Hidemasa, worked as a chef. They settled in Diamond Bar, a city in eastern Los Angeles County. Mizuhara attended Chaparral Middle School and then Diamond Bar High School, graduating in 2003.<ref name="nbc-who">NBC News, "Who is Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara? Everything we know," 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/shohei-ohtani-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-everything-know-rcna144445.</ref>


As a young immigrant, Mizuhara faced significant challenges learning English but eventually developed strong bilingual proficiency in both English and Japanese. Former coaches described him as a quiet and unremarkable student who kept his head down and completed his work diligently. At Diamond Bar High School, he was a backup goalie on the varsity soccer team but received limited playing time.<ref name="nbc-who">NBC News, "Who is Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara? Everything we know," 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/shohei-ohtani-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-everything-know-rcna144445.</ref>
He arrived in the United States with little English. He learned it over time and grew fluent in both English and Japanese. In high school he was a backup goalkeeper on the varsity soccer team. He rarely got into games.<ref name="nbc-who" />


Mizuhara later claimed to have graduated from the University of California, Riverside in 2007, but when the scandal broke in March 2024, the university told reporters that its records showed no student by that name having attended.<ref name="yahoo-mysterious">Yahoo News, "The mysterious life — and questionable claims — of Shohei Ohtani's interpreter," 2024, https://www.yahoo.com/news/mysterious-life-questionable-claims-shohei-100045490.html.</ref>
Mizuhara later said he had graduated from the University of California, Riverside in 2007. When reporters checked in March 2024, the university said it had no record of any student by that name.<ref name="yahoo-mysterious">Yahoo News, "The mysterious life and questionable claims of Shohei Ohtani's interpreter," 2024, https://www.yahoo.com/news/mysterious-life-questionable-claims-shohei-100045490.html.</ref>


=== Passion for Baseball ===
=== Path to Baseball ===


Though he did not play baseball, Mizuhara fell in love with the sport while watching Japanese pitching sensation Hideo Nomo take MLB by storm with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995. "I was right in the middle of Nomo Fever," Mizuhara told Sports Illustrated in 2021. After trying various jobs including work at a sushi restaurant and for a Japanese sake import company, Mizuhara pursued a career as a baseball interpreter.<ref name="espn-lifeline">ESPN, "How interpreter Ippei Mizuhara became players' lifeline," 2024, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39963548/shohei-ohtani-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-american-players-japan-gambling-scandal.</ref>
He never played the game himself. His interest traced back to 1995, when Hideo Nomo pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers and set off a wave of Japanese fan interest. "I was right in the middle of Nomo Fever," Mizuhara told Sports Illustrated in 2021. He worked a string of jobs first, including a stint at a sushi restaurant and a position with a Japanese sake importer. Then he decided to become a baseball interpreter.<ref name="espn-lifeline">ESPN, "How interpreter Ippei Mizuhara became players' lifeline," 2024, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39963548/shohei-ohtani-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-american-players-japan-gambling-scandal.</ref>


=== Career as an Interpreter ===
=== Career as an Interpreter ===


In 2013, Mizuhara was hired by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball to translate for English-speaking players. It was there that he first met Shohei Ohtani, who had also joined the Fighters in 2013. In Japan, Mizuhara's role extended far beyond simple translation—he helped players arrange work visas, set up bank accounts, and accompanied them to medical appointments.<ref name="espn-lifeline" />
In 2013 the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball hired Mizuhara to translate for English-speaking players. Ohtani had joined the same club that year. The job ran wider than language. Mizuhara helped foreign players obtain work visas, open bank accounts, and get to medical appointments.<ref name="espn-lifeline" />


When Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels in December 2017, the team hired Mizuhara to serve as his personal interpreter. Their relationship was remarkably close; Mizuhara was at Ohtani's side for virtually every public appearance and even participated in his baseball activities, including throwing with him during warmups and serving as his catcher during the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby. During the 2021-22 MLB lockout, Mizuhara temporarily resigned from his Angels position to circumvent rules prohibiting contact between players and team personnel, allowing him to continue working with Ohtani.<ref name="wiki-mizuhara" />
Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels in December 2017. The team brought Mizuhara along as his personal interpreter. The two became close. Mizuhara was at Ohtani's side at nearly every public appearance. He took part in on-field warmups and caught for Ohtani at the 2021 Home Run Derby.<ref name="espn-lifeline" /> During the 2021-22 MLB lockout he briefly stepped away from his Angels role so he could keep working with Ohtani without violating rules that barred team contact with players.<ref name="nbc-who" />


When Ohtani signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2024 season, Mizuhara continued as his interpreter—a position he held for less than three months before the scandal emerged.<ref name="espn-sentence" />
When Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season, Mizuhara followed him there. Within three months the case broke and the job was gone.<ref name="espn-sentence" />


== The Gambling Scandal ==
== The Theft and Gambling ==


=== Connection to Illegal Bookmaker ===
Mizuhara's gambling problem started with a poker game. In September 2021 he attended one alongside Angels players and coaches. There he met Mathew Bowyer, an illegal bookmaker. Bowyer set up a betting account for him on a Costa Rica-based gambling site that Bowyer ran.<ref name="cbs-sentence">CBS Sports, "Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, sentenced to 57 months in prison and must pay $18.1M," February 2025, https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/shohei-ohtanis-former-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-sentenced-to-57-months-in-prison-and-must-pay-18-1m/.</ref>


In September 2021, Mizuhara attended a poker game involving Los Angeles Angels players and coaches, where he met illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer. Shortly after, Bowyer set up Mizuhara with a betting account on AnyActionSports.com, a Costa Rica-based gambling website Bowyer used for his operation.<ref name="cbs-sentence" />
The betting escalated fast. Within about a month Bowyer could see he was dealing with a problem gambler. Mizuhara wagered around the clock, often on soccer matches in obscure overseas leagues. His average bet ran roughly $12,800. He placed something close to 25 bets a day.<ref name="irs-sentence">IRS Criminal Investigation, "Former interpreter sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for illegally transferring nearly $17 million from baseball star's bank account," February 2025, https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/former-interpreter-sentenced-to-nearly-5-years-in-prison-for-illegally-transferring-nearly-17-million-from-baseball-stars-bank-account.</ref>


Bowyer later said he knew within 30 days that Mizuhara was a problem gambler based on the frequency and nature of his bets. Mizuhara bet obsessively, wagering on obscure international soccer matches and other events around the clock. His average bet was approximately $12,800, and he averaged 25 bets per day.<ref name="irs-sentence">IRS, "Former interpreter sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for illegally transferring nearly $17 million from baseball star's bank account," February 2025, https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/former-interpreter-sentenced-to-nearly-5-years-in-prison-for-illegally-transferring-nearly-17-million-from-baseball-stars-bank-account.</ref>
Over roughly two and a half years the totals reached a staggering scale. Mizuhara placed at least 19,000 bets. The wagers added up to about $325 million. He won roughly $142 million of that and lost more than $182 million. The gap left him down over $40 million.<ref name="cbs-sentence" />


=== Stealing from Ohtani ===
He covered the losses with Ohtani's money. Starting no later than November 2021 and running through March 2024, Mizuhara logged into Ohtani's bank account using the password. He changed the account's security settings. He swapped out the registered email address and phone number so that bank staff would reach him, not Ohtani, when they called to verify a transaction.<ref name="doj-sentence" />


As Mizuhara's gambling losses mounted into the millions, he began stealing from Ohtani to pay his debts. Starting no later than November 2021 and continuing through March 2024, Mizuhara used Ohtani's password to access his bank account and changed the security protocols without Ohtani's knowledge. He altered the registered email address and phone number so that bank employees would call him, not Ohtani, when verifying transactions.<ref name="doj-sentence" />
On about two dozen calls with the bank, Mizuhara posed as Ohtani. He used the player's personal details to authorize wire transfers to associates of the bookmaker. In all he moved roughly $17 million out of the account through more than 40 wires.<ref name="doj-sentence" /><ref name="mlb-plea">MLB.com, "Ippei Mizuhara pleads guilty to bank, tax fraud charges," June 2024, https://www.mlb.com/news/ippei-mizuhara-guilty-plea.</ref>


Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani on approximately 24 phone calls with the bank, using Ohtani's personal identifying information to authorize wire transfers. In total, he stole approximately $16.975 million from Ohtani's account.<ref name="doj-sentence" />
The fraud reached his taxes too. For 2022 Mizuhara reported taxable income of $136,865. He left out about $4.1 million in additional income that year.<ref name="mlb-plea" />


=== Discovery and Termination ===
Everything came apart in March 2024. Federal investigators were following money tied to Bowyer's operation when they spotted the transfers out of Ohtani's account. On March 20, 2024, the Dodgers fired Mizuhara after Ohtani's representatives reported the theft. Prosecutors said from the start that Ohtani was a victim. He had not gambled. He had not known.<ref name="espn-sentence" />


The scheme unraveled in March 2024 when federal investigators, following money trails as part of their investigation into Bowyer's illegal gambling operation, discovered the wire transfers from Ohtani's account. On March 20, 2024, the Dodgers fired Mizuhara after Ohtani's representatives accused him of "massive theft." Federal prosecutors made clear from the outset that Ohtani was entirely a victim who had never gambled and had no knowledge of the thefts.<ref name="espn-sentence" />
== Charges and Guilty Plea ==


== Legal Proceedings ==
Federal authorities filed a criminal complaint in April 2024 accusing Mizuhara of bank fraud. The affidavit stated there was no evidence Ohtani knew about the gambling or the transfers.<ref name="abc-sentence">ABC News, "Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter sentenced to nearly 5 years in fraud case," February 2025, https://abcnews.com/US/shohei-ohtani-interpreter-sentencing-gambling-fraud-case/story?id=118489045.</ref> A grand jury indictment followed in the Central District of California.


=== Charges and Guilty Plea ===
On June 4, 2024, Mizuhara pleaded guilty to two counts. The first was bank fraud. The second was subscribing to a false tax return, which covered the income he failed to report for 2022.<ref name="mlb-plea" /> In the plea agreement he admitted impersonating Ohtani on the calls to the bank and transferring the money to pay his debts.<ref name="espn-plea">ESPN, "Ohtani's ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara to plead guilty to bank, tax fraud," 2024, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40107683/shohei-ohtani-ippei-mizuhara-pleads-guilty.</ref>


On April 11, 2024, federal prosecutors charged Mizuhara with one count of bank fraud. He turned himself in the following day and was released on $25,000 bond. On June 4, 2024, Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank fraud and to one count of filing a false tax return, the latter related to his failure to report gambling winnings on his taxes.<ref name="wiki-mizuhara" />
== Sentencing ==


=== Sentencing ===
U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb sentenced Mizuhara on February 6, 2025. The term was 57 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. That fell below the 63-month sentence prosecutors had asked for.<ref name="doj-sentence" />


On February 6, 2025, U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb sentenced Mizuhara to 57 months in federal prison, slightly below the 63-month term prosecutors had recommended. The judge also ordered Mizuhara to pay $16,975,010 in restitution to Ohtani and $1,149,400 to the IRS, and imposed three years of supervised release.<ref name="doj-sentence" />
The judge ordered restitution of $16,975,010 to Ohtani and $1,149,400 to the Internal Revenue Service. The combined figure came to more than $18 million.<ref name="doj-sentence" />


At sentencing, prosecutors emphasized the scope of Mizuhara's betrayal. "Let there be no doubt, Mr. Ohtani is truly a victim and has suffered, and will continue to suffer, harm from defendant's conduct," prosecutors stated in court documents.<ref name="nbc-sentence">NBC News, "Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter sentenced to nearly 5 years in gambling-linked theft," February 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/shohei-ohtani-former-interpreter-set-sentenced-gambling-linked-theft-rcna190978.</ref>
Prosecutors were direct about who had been harmed. "Let there be no doubt, Mr. Ohtani is truly a victim and has suffered, and will continue to suffer, harm from defendant's conduct," they wrote in court filings.<ref name="nbc-sentence">NBC News, "Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter sentenced to nearly 5 years in gambling-linked theft," February 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/shohei-ohtani-former-interpreter-set-sentenced-gambling-linked-theft-rcna190978.</ref> The investigation had been run by Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles and IRS Criminal Investigation.<ref name="ice-sentence">U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, "Former Major League Baseball interpreter sentenced to 57 months imprisonment, following HSI Los Angeles, IRS-CI investigation," February 2025, https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/former-major-league-baseball-interpreter-sentenced-57-months-imprisonment-following.</ref>


== Prison Status and Deportation ==
== Incarceration ==


Mizuhara was ordered to surrender to federal prison by March 24, 2025. His attorney, Michael G. Freedman, indicated that Mizuhara, a Japanese citizen, is expected to be deported after completing his sentence.<ref name="fox-sentence">Fox LA, "Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, sentenced for stealing millions," February 2025, https://www.foxla.com/news/shohei-ohtani-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-sentenced.</ref>
The court first ordered Mizuhara to surrender by late March 2025. His report date was pushed back twice. He reported in June 2025.<ref name="igb-reports" />


== Terminology ==
The Bureau of Prisons designated him to FCI Allenwood Low, a minimum-security facility in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, about 75 miles north of Harrisburg. He arrived around midday. His BOP register number is 09459-511.<ref name="fos-prison">Front Office Sports, "Ohtani's Former Interpreter Reports to Prison After Delays," June 2025, https://frontofficesports.com/ippei-mizuhara-federal-prison-pennsylvania/.</ref>


* '''Bank Fraud''': A federal crime involving a scheme to defraud a financial institution or obtain money from a bank through false pretenses.
Mizuhara is a Japanese citizen. His attorney, Michael G. Freedman, has said he is expected to be deported to Japan after he finishes his sentence.<ref name="fox-sentence">Fox LA, "Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, sentenced for stealing millions," February 2025, https://www.foxla.com/news/shohei-ohtani-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-sentenced.</ref>


* '''Wire Transfer''': An electronic transfer of funds from one bank account to another.
== Frequently Asked Questions ==
 
{{FAQSection/Start}}
* '''Problem Gambling''': Gambling behavior that causes harm to the gambler or others, often characterized by loss of control.
{{FAQ|question=What did Ippei Mizuhara do?|answer=Mizuhara was Shohei Ohtani's interpreter. Federal prosecutors say he transferred roughly $17 million out of Ohtani's bank account between November 2021 and March 2024 to pay an illegal sports bookmaker. He impersonated Ohtani on about two dozen calls to the bank. He pleaded guilty in June 2024 to bank fraud and to subscribing to a false tax return.}}
 
{{FAQ|question=How long is Ippei Mizuhara's sentence?|answer=U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb sentenced Mizuhara on February 6, 2025, to 57 months in federal prison. That is four years and nine months. The sentence is followed by three years of supervised release.}}
* '''Restitution''': Court-ordered payment to compensate victims for their financial losses.
{{FAQ|question=How much did Ippei Mizuhara steal?|answer=He moved about $17 million out of Ohtani's account. The court ordered him to pay $16,975,010 in restitution to Ohtani and $1,149,400 to the IRS, for a total above $18 million.}}
 
{{FAQ|question=Where is Ippei Mizuhara incarcerated?|answer=He is held at FCI Allenwood Low, a minimum-security federal facility in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, about 75 miles north of Harrisburg. He reported in June 2025. His Bureau of Prisons register number is 09459-511.}}
== See Also ==
{{FAQ|question=Did Shohei Ohtani know about the theft?|answer=No. Federal authorities determined that Ohtani was a victim. There was no evidence he gambled or knew that his bank account was being used to pay Mizuhara's debts.}}
 
{{FAQ|question=How did Ippei Mizuhara get caught?|answer=Federal investigators were tracing money tied to the bookmaker's operation when they found the wire transfers from Ohtani's account. The Dodgers fired Mizuhara on March 20, 2024, after Ohtani's representatives reported the theft.}}
* [[Mathew_Bowyer|Mathew Bowyer]]
{{FAQ|question=Will Ippei Mizuhara be deported?|answer=His attorney has said Mizuhara, a Japanese citizen, is expected to be deported to Japan once he completes his federal sentence.}}
* [[Federal_Prison_System/Overview|Overview of the Federal Prison System]]
{{FAQSection/End}}


== References ==
== References ==
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<references />
<references />


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mizuhara, Ippei}}
[[Category:High-Profile_Federal_Offenders]]
[[Category:High-Profile_Federal_Offenders]]
[[Category:Bank Fraud]]
[[Category:Wire_Fraud]]
[[Category:White_Collar_Crime]]
[[Category:White_Collar_Crime]]
[[Category:Incarcerated]]
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{{MetaDescription|Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, sentenced to 57 months for a $17 million bank fraud. Case file, plea, sentencing, and prison on Prisonpedia.}}

Latest revision as of 13:31, 3 June 2026

Ippei Mizuhara
Born: December 31, 1984
Hokkaido, Japan
Charges: Bank fraud (1 count), Subscribing to a false tax return (1 count)
Sentence: 57 months federal prison, 3 years supervised release
Facility: FCI Allenwood Low
Status: Incarcerated


Ippei Mizuhara (born December 31, 1984) is a former Major League Baseball interpreter. For most of a decade he worked beside Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani. In 2024 federal prosecutors charged him with draining roughly $17 million from Ohtani's bank account. The money went to an illegal sports bookmaker. Mizuhara pleaded guilty in June 2024 to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return.[1]

A federal judge sentenced him on February 6, 2025, to 57 months in prison. That is four years and nine months. The court also ordered him to pay more than $18 million in restitution, most of it back to Ohtani.[1] He reported to a federal prison in central Pennsylvania in June 2025.[2]

Mizuhara had been Ohtani's interpreter since 2013, first in Japan and then across the player's move to the United States. He became a familiar face at press conferences and in the dugout. He caught for Ohtani during the 2021 Home Run Derby.[3] Federal authorities determined that Ohtani never gambled and did not know his account was being looted.[1]

Background

Early Life

Mizuhara was born on December 31, 1984, in Hokkaido, Japan. His family moved to Southern California in 1991. His father, Hidemasa, worked as a chef. They settled in Diamond Bar, a city in eastern Los Angeles County. Mizuhara attended Chaparral Middle School and then Diamond Bar High School, graduating in 2003.[4]

He arrived in the United States with little English. He learned it over time and grew fluent in both English and Japanese. In high school he was a backup goalkeeper on the varsity soccer team. He rarely got into games.[4]

Mizuhara later said he had graduated from the University of California, Riverside in 2007. When reporters checked in March 2024, the university said it had no record of any student by that name.[5]

Path to Baseball

He never played the game himself. His interest traced back to 1995, when Hideo Nomo pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers and set off a wave of Japanese fan interest. "I was right in the middle of Nomo Fever," Mizuhara told Sports Illustrated in 2021. He worked a string of jobs first, including a stint at a sushi restaurant and a position with a Japanese sake importer. Then he decided to become a baseball interpreter.[6]

Career as an Interpreter

In 2013 the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball hired Mizuhara to translate for English-speaking players. Ohtani had joined the same club that year. The job ran wider than language. Mizuhara helped foreign players obtain work visas, open bank accounts, and get to medical appointments.[6]

Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels in December 2017. The team brought Mizuhara along as his personal interpreter. The two became close. Mizuhara was at Ohtani's side at nearly every public appearance. He took part in on-field warmups and caught for Ohtani at the 2021 Home Run Derby.[6] During the 2021-22 MLB lockout he briefly stepped away from his Angels role so he could keep working with Ohtani without violating rules that barred team contact with players.[4]

When Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season, Mizuhara followed him there. Within three months the case broke and the job was gone.[3]

The Theft and Gambling

Mizuhara's gambling problem started with a poker game. In September 2021 he attended one alongside Angels players and coaches. There he met Mathew Bowyer, an illegal bookmaker. Bowyer set up a betting account for him on a Costa Rica-based gambling site that Bowyer ran.[7]

The betting escalated fast. Within about a month Bowyer could see he was dealing with a problem gambler. Mizuhara wagered around the clock, often on soccer matches in obscure overseas leagues. His average bet ran roughly $12,800. He placed something close to 25 bets a day.[8]

Over roughly two and a half years the totals reached a staggering scale. Mizuhara placed at least 19,000 bets. The wagers added up to about $325 million. He won roughly $142 million of that and lost more than $182 million. The gap left him down over $40 million.[7]

He covered the losses with Ohtani's money. Starting no later than November 2021 and running through March 2024, Mizuhara logged into Ohtani's bank account using the password. He changed the account's security settings. He swapped out the registered email address and phone number so that bank staff would reach him, not Ohtani, when they called to verify a transaction.[1]

On about two dozen calls with the bank, Mizuhara posed as Ohtani. He used the player's personal details to authorize wire transfers to associates of the bookmaker. In all he moved roughly $17 million out of the account through more than 40 wires.[1][9]

The fraud reached his taxes too. For 2022 Mizuhara reported taxable income of $136,865. He left out about $4.1 million in additional income that year.[9]

Everything came apart in March 2024. Federal investigators were following money tied to Bowyer's operation when they spotted the transfers out of Ohtani's account. On March 20, 2024, the Dodgers fired Mizuhara after Ohtani's representatives reported the theft. Prosecutors said from the start that Ohtani was a victim. He had not gambled. He had not known.[3]

Charges and Guilty Plea

Federal authorities filed a criminal complaint in April 2024 accusing Mizuhara of bank fraud. The affidavit stated there was no evidence Ohtani knew about the gambling or the transfers.[10] A grand jury indictment followed in the Central District of California.

On June 4, 2024, Mizuhara pleaded guilty to two counts. The first was bank fraud. The second was subscribing to a false tax return, which covered the income he failed to report for 2022.[9] In the plea agreement he admitted impersonating Ohtani on the calls to the bank and transferring the money to pay his debts.[11]

Sentencing

U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb sentenced Mizuhara on February 6, 2025. The term was 57 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. That fell below the 63-month sentence prosecutors had asked for.[1]

The judge ordered restitution of $16,975,010 to Ohtani and $1,149,400 to the Internal Revenue Service. The combined figure came to more than $18 million.[1]

Prosecutors were direct about who had been harmed. "Let there be no doubt, Mr. Ohtani is truly a victim and has suffered, and will continue to suffer, harm from defendant's conduct," they wrote in court filings.[12] The investigation had been run by Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles and IRS Criminal Investigation.[13]

Incarceration

The court first ordered Mizuhara to surrender by late March 2025. His report date was pushed back twice. He reported in June 2025.[2]

The Bureau of Prisons designated him to FCI Allenwood Low, a minimum-security facility in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, about 75 miles north of Harrisburg. He arrived around midday. His BOP register number is 09459-511.[14]

Mizuhara is a Japanese citizen. His attorney, Michael G. Freedman, has said he is expected to be deported to Japan after he finishes his sentence.[15]

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did Ippei Mizuhara do?

Mizuhara was Shohei Ohtani's interpreter. Federal prosecutors say he transferred roughly $17 million out of Ohtani's bank account between November 2021 and March 2024 to pay an illegal sports bookmaker. He impersonated Ohtani on about two dozen calls to the bank. He pleaded guilty in June 2024 to bank fraud and to subscribing to a false tax return.


Q: How long is Ippei Mizuhara's sentence?

U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb sentenced Mizuhara on February 6, 2025, to 57 months in federal prison. That is four years and nine months. The sentence is followed by three years of supervised release.


Q: How much did Ippei Mizuhara steal?

He moved about $17 million out of Ohtani's account. The court ordered him to pay $16,975,010 in restitution to Ohtani and $1,149,400 to the IRS, for a total above $18 million.


Q: Where is Ippei Mizuhara incarcerated?

He is held at FCI Allenwood Low, a minimum-security federal facility in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, about 75 miles north of Harrisburg. He reported in June 2025. His Bureau of Prisons register number is 09459-511.


Q: Did Shohei Ohtani know about the theft?

No. Federal authorities determined that Ohtani was a victim. There was no evidence he gambled or knew that his bank account was being used to pay Mizuhara's debts.


Q: How did Ippei Mizuhara get caught?

Federal investigators were tracing money tied to the bookmaker's operation when they found the wire transfers from Ohtani's account. The Dodgers fired Mizuhara on March 20, 2024, after Ohtani's representatives reported the theft.


Q: Will Ippei Mizuhara be deported?

His attorney has said Mizuhara, a Japanese citizen, is expected to be deported to Japan once he completes his federal sentence.


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 U.S. Department of Justice, "Former Interpreter Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Prison for Illegally Transferring Nearly $17 Million from Baseball Star's Bank Account," February 2025, https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-interpreter-sentenced-nearly-5-years-prison-illegally-transferring-nearly-17.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 iGaming Business, "Ohtani's ex-interpreter reports to federal prison for gambling-related crimes," June 2025, https://igamingbusiness.com/sports-betting/ohtani-former-interpreter-reports-prison/.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 ESPN, "Ippei Mizuhara sentenced to 57 months for stealing from Shohei Ohtani," February 2025, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43721275/mizuhara-sentenced-57-months-prison-ohtani-fraud.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 NBC News, "Who is Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara? Everything we know," 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/shohei-ohtani-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-everything-know-rcna144445.
  5. ↑ Yahoo News, "The mysterious life and questionable claims of Shohei Ohtani's interpreter," 2024, https://www.yahoo.com/news/mysterious-life-questionable-claims-shohei-100045490.html.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 ESPN, "How interpreter Ippei Mizuhara became players' lifeline," 2024, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39963548/shohei-ohtani-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-american-players-japan-gambling-scandal.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 CBS Sports, "Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, sentenced to 57 months in prison and must pay $18.1M," February 2025, https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/shohei-ohtanis-former-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-sentenced-to-57-months-in-prison-and-must-pay-18-1m/.
  8. ↑ IRS Criminal Investigation, "Former interpreter sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for illegally transferring nearly $17 million from baseball star's bank account," February 2025, https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/former-interpreter-sentenced-to-nearly-5-years-in-prison-for-illegally-transferring-nearly-17-million-from-baseball-stars-bank-account.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 MLB.com, "Ippei Mizuhara pleads guilty to bank, tax fraud charges," June 2024, https://www.mlb.com/news/ippei-mizuhara-guilty-plea.
  10. ↑ ABC News, "Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter sentenced to nearly 5 years in fraud case," February 2025, https://abcnews.com/US/shohei-ohtani-interpreter-sentencing-gambling-fraud-case/story?id=118489045.
  11. ↑ ESPN, "Ohtani's ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara to plead guilty to bank, tax fraud," 2024, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40107683/shohei-ohtani-ippei-mizuhara-pleads-guilty.
  12. ↑ NBC News, "Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter sentenced to nearly 5 years in gambling-linked theft," February 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/shohei-ohtani-former-interpreter-set-sentenced-gambling-linked-theft-rcna190978.
  13. ↑ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, "Former Major League Baseball interpreter sentenced to 57 months imprisonment, following HSI Los Angeles, IRS-CI investigation," February 2025, https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/former-major-league-baseball-interpreter-sentenced-57-months-imprisonment-following.
  14. ↑ Front Office Sports, "Ohtani's Former Interpreter Reports to Prison After Delays," June 2025, https://frontofficesports.com/ippei-mizuhara-federal-prison-pennsylvania/.
  15. ↑ Fox LA, "Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, sentenced for stealing millions," February 2025, https://www.foxla.com/news/shohei-ohtani-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-sentenced.


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