Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was released on $25,000 bond. ordered undergo gambling addiction treatment after appearing in court accused of stealing $16 million from the Dodgers star to cover his debts.
The 39-year-old, who surrendered to authorities earlier on Friday, did not enter a plea during the proceedings in downtown Los Angeles. He apologized through an attorney and was ordered to return for an arraignment on May 9.
Mizuhara is charged with bank fraud and faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years if convicted.
Wearing a dark suit and white shirt, he entered the courtroom with his ankles shackled before the judge approved his lawyer’s request to remove them.
Mizuhara is accused of transferring the money to an illegal sports gambling organization without Ohtani’s knowledge. According to the federal affidavit, Mizuhara began gambling with the pirated book in late 2021, losing significant amounts of money.
Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara appeared in court in Los Angeles on Friday
Mizuhara’s attorney, Michael Freedman, issued a statement saying his client “would like to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and his family.”
To cover his debts, Mizuhara posed as Ohtani over the phone to “deceive and mislead” bank employees into authorizing transfers from Ohtani’s account, into which the player’s baseball salary was deposited, the affidavit said.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria A. Audero also ordered Mizuhara’s release on a $25,000 unsecured bond, meaning Mizuhara will not have to post any cash or collateral to be released. If he violates the terms of his bond, he will have to pay $25,000.
Mizuhara’s attorney, Michael Freedman, issued a statement saying his client “would like to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and his family.”
“He continues to cooperate with the legal process and is hopeful that he can reach an agreement with the government to resolve this matter as quickly as possible so that he can take responsibility,” Freedman said. The comment suggested Mizuhara was negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors.
Mizuhara is accused of stealing $16 million from the Dodgers star to cover his debts
The hearing came a day after prosecutors charged Mizuhara and publicly acquitted Ohtani in a case that threatened to embroil the Dodgers, the MLB and a power-hitting pitcher considered a national hero in his home country.
“For me personally, this represents a break from this, and I would like to focus on baseball,” the Los Angeles Times quoted Ohtani as saying on Friday in his first public comments since his former interpreter was indicted.
Other bond conditions stipulate that Mizuhara may not gamble, electronically or in person, or enter gambling establishments, or deal with well-known bookmakers.
While Mizuhara’s winning bets totaled more than $142 million, which he deposited into his own bank account and not Ohtani’s, his losing bets totaled about $183 million – a net loss of almost $41 million.