Ippei Mizuhara pleads guilty to bank and tax fraud

Major League Baseball has officially closed its investigation into gambling allegations against Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and close confidant, after Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud on Tuesday.

Mizuhara, who worked for Ohtani throughout the superstar’s Angels career and during his first spring training with the Dodgers, admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani during a plea change hearing in federal court in Santa Ana, Calif. Mizuhara faces a maximum sentence of 33 years. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.

“I worked for Victim A and had access to his bank account and was heavily in debt,” Mizuhara said in court, according to an Associated Press report. “I transferred money … to his bank account.”

MLB released the following statement following Mizuhara’s guilty plea:

“Due to the thoroughness of the publicly disclosed federal investigation, the information collected by MLB, and the fact that the criminal case was settled without contest, MLB considers Shohei Ohtani to be a victim of fraud and this case has been closed.”

The Dodgers, who signed Ohtani to a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million free agent contract this winter, also released a statement:

“With today’s plea in the criminal case against Ippei Mizuhara and the conclusion of the investigations at both the federal and MLB levels, the Dodgers are pleased that Shohei and the team can put this entire matter behind them and now begin chasing a World Series title.”

In March, after Ohtani’s lawyers accused Mizuhara of “massive theft” from Ohtani to cash out bets at an allegedly illegal bookmaker currently under investigation by federal authorities, the Dodgers fired Mizuhara and MLB’s Bureau of Investigation began its investigation into the matter.

When federal authorities filed an affidavit in April charging Mizuhara with bank fraud, there was no evidence that Ohtani had known about Mizuhara’s gambling activities or the use of his bank account to pay off the debt. Investigators had combed through years of text messages between Ohtani and Mizuhara and found no mention of gambling.

“I want to emphasize this point: Mr. Ohtani is considered a victim in this case,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said during a press conference in April.

Ohtani made the following statement:

“With the investigation now complete, this full admission of guilt has brought important closure to me and my family. I want to sincerely thank the authorities for completing their thorough and effective investigation so quickly and uncovering all of the evidence. This has been an exceptionally challenging time, so I am especially grateful for my support team – my family, my agent, my agency, my attorneys and advisors, and the entire Dodger organization who have shown endless support throughout this process. It’s time to close this chapter, move on, and remain focused on playing and winning ball games.”