Ex-Interpreter Impersonated Shohei Ohtani Dozens of Times on the Phone to Wire Millions from His Bank Account: Feds

Mar. 15, 2025

Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani.Photo:Naoki Nishimura/AFLO/Shutterstock

Naoki Nishimura/AFLO/Shutterstock

The former interpreter for MLB starShohei Ohtaniimpersonated the Los Angeles Dodgers player numerous times to defraud him, according to federal prosecutors.

On Thursday, Jan. 23, federal prosecutors released audio of Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara — which they say is evidence that Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani in an attempt to wire millions from the baseball superstar’s bank account,ESPNreported.In the Feb. 2, 2022 recording, Mizuhara allegedly called the bank and impersonated Ohtani 24 times to wire money from his account, according to the court filing from prosecutors, the outlet reported.

Shohei Ohtani answers questions and Ippei Mizuhara translates during the Shohei Ohtani Los Angeles Dodgers Press Conference at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, December 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty

Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty

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After falsely identifying himself in the recording as Ohtani, Mizuhara then said he was unable to log into the online banking account. Mizuhara provided the information sent for two-factor verification and told the bank employee he needed $200,000 wired to a “friend” for a car loan, according to ESPN.

The bank employee raised initial suspicion during the call, saying, “We haven’t been able to verify the transaction," but Mizuhara said he received the verification via email and discussed it with the recipient in person.

At the end of the audio recording, Mizuhara was asked if there would be any more wires in the future, to which he allegedly responded, “Possibly.”

According toThe Athletic, Mizuhara pleaded guilty to “bank fraud and filing a false tax return.” Federal prosecutors recommended that Mizuhara spend 57 months in prison and pay close to $17 million in restitution to Ohtani, with an additional $1.1 million to the IRS, ESPNreported.

Ippei Mizuhara departs federal court after his arraignment in Los Angeles, California, on May 14, 2024. Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Mizuhara, has agreed to plead guilty over charges of illegally transferring nearly $17 million from the baseball star’s bank account in order to pay off gambling debts.FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty

“All of these extra expenses were taking a huge toll on me and I was living paycheck to paycheck, I would have to borrow money from family and friends some months to make ends meet,” Mizuhara’s letter read.

After asking for leniency, Mizuhara apologized to Ohtani in the letter.

“Lastly, I truly admire Shohei as a baseball player and a human being and I was committed to devote my life so Shohei can be the best version of himself on the field. I want to say I am truly sorry for violating his trust in me,” he wrote.

Mizuhara was initially charged with bank fraud on April 11, 2024, after being fired on March 20. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 6.

The attorney’s office alleges that Mizuhara’s crimes date back to 2018 when he accompanied Ohtani to an Arizona bank to translate for him while Ohtani opened an account that would hold his MLB salary. Mizuhara’s illegal gambling debts began to grow in 2021, according to the USAO.

source: people.com