Shohei Ohtani answers questions and Ippei Mizuhara translates during the Shohei Ohtani-Los Angeles Dodgers press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Dec. 14, 2023.
The former translator of Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to illegally transferring $17 million out of the baseball phenom's account without his knowledge, authorities said Wednesday.
Ippei Mizuhara, 39, will plead guilty to single counts of bank fraud and subscribing to a false tax return, according to federal prosecutors in Southern California.
"Unable to pay his gambling debts, Mizuhara orchestrated a scheme to deceive and cheat the bank to fraudulently obtain money from" Ohtani's account, according to a statement by prosecutors.
Mizuhara used Ohtani's password to get to the player's bank account, without the player's knowledge or permission, prosecutors said.
Persons:
Shohei, Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, Martin Estrada, Mizuhara, —, Ohtani
Organizations:
Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger, Los Angeles Angels
Locations:
Los Angeles, Southern California