According to a report by ESPN, Shohei Ohtani, the star player of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has allegedly had money stolen from him by his interpreter and longtime friend, Ippei Mizuhara. The stolen funds, totaling over $16 million, were reportedly funneled to an illegal bookmaker through casinos in California and Las Vegas. Mizuhara is said to have carried out the theft through a series of $500,000 wire transfers over the span of several years.
The series of $500,000 payments Ippei Mizuhara sent from Shohei Ohtani’s bank account to an illegal bookmaking operation were forwarded to California and Las Vegas casinos, where the money was deposited in gambling accounts, converted to playing chips and later cashed out to pay the bookie, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the operation told ESPN.
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Mathew Bowyer, the California bookmaker who took Mizuhara’s bets, was a frequent customer at Las Vegas casino Resorts World. The sources told ESPN that Mizuhara paid his losses to Bowyer’s associate, who forwarded the money to his own “marker” accounts at Resorts World and Pechanga Resort Casino in Southern California. The men then withdrew chips from the marker account, gambled with them, and if they won, cashed out.
Sports betting remains illegal in California, and Bowyer is currently under federal investigation. Mizuhara’s involvement in the scandal was discovered when the Los Angeles Times reported on Bowyer’s case. Federal investigators claim that Mizuhara played a role in the embezzlement scheme by impersonating Ohtani during phone calls with his bank.
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In a message to his bookmaker after the scandal came to light in late March, Mizuhara allegedly confessed, “Technically I did steal from him. It’s all over for me.”
Ohtani is seen as a victim in this case. Mizuhara allegedly made approximately 19,000 wagers between December 2021 and January 2024, averaging 25 bets per day. According to the criminal complaint, these bets resulted in a net loss of over $40 million. If convicted of bank fraud, Mizuhara could face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
Shohei Ohtani, 29, made headlines this offseason when he signed a historic 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers. Prior to joining the Dodgers, Ohtani had spent six years with the Los Angeles Angels. This season, Ohtani has been displaying his talent both at the plate and on the field. He currently boasts an impressive batting average of .341, with an on-base percentage of .406 and a slugging percentage of .635. However, due to his recovery from elbow surgery last September, Ohtani is currently unable to pitch.
Ohtani and Mizuhara first crossed paths in 2013, when Ohtani, then 18 years old and playing for the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan, and Mizuhara, serving as the team’s interpreter for English-speaking players, formed a connection. However, following the revelation of the scandal in March, the Dodgers made the decision to part ways with Mizuhara.
