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Former Shohei Ohtani interpreter Ippei Mizuhara begins 57-month prison sentence
Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, reported to prison Monday to begin his 57-month sentence, his attorney, Michael Freedman, confirmed to The Athletic.
Mizuhara pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return, after stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani to cover sports gambling debts. Mizuhara is currently in custody at Federal Correctional Institution at Allenwood Low, located in Allenwood, Pennsylvania.
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Mizuhara, 40, acknowledged his severe gambling addiction at sentencing and pleaded with the court to limit his sentence. However, Judge John W. Holcomb strongly criticized Mizuhara's pre-sentencing letter to the court and sided with the government, which had recommended he serve 57 months.
'I give it no credit,' Holcomb said, adding that he believed it was full of misleading excuses for his conduct.
After being sentenced in January, Mizuhara was initially instructed to report to prison in March. However, a judge granted multiple delays for undisclosed reasons. He had requested to be housed in Southern California, though it is unclear why he is serving his sentence elsewhere.
Both Freedman and prosecutors believe that Mizuhara will be deported to Japan following his prison term. Mizuhara is a legal permanent resident of the United States, where he grew up, but is a citizen of Japan.
Mizuhara gambled more than $300 million, and was nearly $41 million in debt. He largely placed bets through Matthew Bowyer, an illegal bookmaker who is awaiting sentencing for his own charges. Mizuhara was fired from the Dodgers in March of 2024, and was formally charged a month later.
(Photo of Ippei Mizuhara in February: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)
