The Department of Justice revealed Thursday that the ex-interpreter of Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Shohei Ohtani is now facing federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a multi-million-dollar gambling scheme targeting MLB's top-paid player.

Ippei Mizuhara faces bank fraud charges, accused of embezzling over $16 million from Ohtani. "finance his voracious appetite for illegal sports betting," The DOJ alleges that Mizuhara, who assisted Ohtani in setting up his bank account in Arizona back in 2018 due to Ohtani's lack of English proficiency, exploited this familiarity to siphon funds for illegal sports betting purposes. From November 2021 to January 2024, Mizuhara purportedly initiated unauthorized transfers exceeding $16 million from Ohtani's checking account. Additionally, he stands accused of impersonating Ohtani during phone calls with the bank to authorize wire transfers to bookmakers.

Federal prosecutors announced Thursday that Mizuhara is set to surrender to authorities on Friday and appear in court in Downtown Los Angeles, where he will likely be released on bond without entering a plea.

Estrada emphasized that Ohtani is regarded as the victim in the case and has fully cooperated with the investigation.

"There is no evidence to indicate that Mr. Ohtani authorized the over $16 million of transfers from his account to the bookmakers," Estrada said.

Authorities stated that the wagers were not placed on baseball, and any proceeds were funneled into Mizuhara's personal bank account, not Ohtani's. Allegedly, the ex-interpreter confessed to a bookmaker about embezzling from Ohtani. Estrada noted that Ohtani surrendered his cellphone to investigators, who found no evidence implicating him in the illicit gambling scheme, as per the DOJ.

"Our investigation has revealed that due to the position of trust that he occupied with Mr. Ohtani, Mr. Mizuhara had unique access to Mr. Ohtani's finances," Estrada said. "Mr. Mizuhara used and abused that position of trust in order to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani."

On March 20, the Dodgers terminated the employment of the Japanese interpreter following the emergence of the gambling scandal. The team refrained from disclosing the exact cause for Mizuhara's dismissal.

Two days after the Dodgers terminated Mizuhara, MLB disclosed its investigation into the matter.

In a formal statement conveyed through an interpreter, Ohtani remarked, "I am very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this." "I never bet on baseball or any other sports, I never asked somebody to do that on my behalf and I have never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports."

The 29-year-old star, who's exceptional at pitching and hitting, signed a massive $700 million contract with the Dodgers. He stated that he had no knowledge of Mizuhara's gambling until after a Dodgers game in Korea the previous week. This suggests he was unaware of Mizuhara's actions and might have felt betrayed by the revelation.

Mizuhara worked as Ohtani's interpreter first with the Angels, then with the Dodgers. Their history goes back to 2013 when Ohtani played for the Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan, and Mizuhara was his interpreter there too.

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