Ohtani’s former interpreter Mizuhara to plead guilty

Ippei Mizuhara decided today to plead guilty to federal charges of felony bank fraud and providing a false tax return after authorities found that he stole almost 17 million dollars from LA Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani in order to pay off betting debts to an illegal gambling site.

Ippei, who had been Shohei’s longtime interpreter, is expected to begin his guilty plea in several weeks. Mizuhara’s arraignment is scheduled for next week in the U.S. District Court of California.

The plea means that the interpreter must pay 17 million dollars to the Dodgers superstar. Ohtani didn’t share any word to the media after today’s announcement as the MLB organization from LA also declined to comment.

If a plea deal hadn’t been reached, Ippei was risking being jailed for up to 33 years and paying over a million dollars in fines, but after the agreement, it is expected that his sentence will be lighter.

Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, is pleading guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return.

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He could face up to 33 years in federal prison after admitting to secretly stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani.

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