Latest news with #Mizuhara
Kyodo News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Ex-Ohtani interpreter Mizuhara reports to U.S. prison
KYODO NEWS - 5 hours ago - 13:18 | Sports, All Ippei Mizuhara, a former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, is in U.S. federal prison, prison authorities said Monday, after being sentenced for stealing nearly $17 million from the baseball player. His incarceration in Pennsylvania comes after Mizuhara, 40, was sentenced to a prison term of four years and nine months and was ordered to surrender himself to authorities by Monday, according to his attorney. Mizuhara is being held in a low-security prison in Allenwood, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. His defense has said he is likely to be deported to Japan after completing his sentence, as he is not an American citizen. According to court documents, Mizuhara misappropriated $16.59 million from one of Ohtani's bank accounts from November 2021 through March 2024 to pay a bookmaker to cover gambling debts. Mizuhara also stole around $380,000 to buy baseball cards to resell them and to pay for his dental work. Additionally, he submitted a false tax return for 2022, knowing the income he had received that year far exceeded the amount reported, the documents said. The incident stunned the baseball world and Ohtani's fans after it emerged through media reports in March last year. Mizuhara came to the United States in 2018 to work as Ohtani's interpreter when the two-way star began his MLB career with the Los Angeles Angels. Mizuhara initially falsely told U.S. sports network ESPN that Ohtani had sent him the money to pay off his gambling debts. A federal district court in California sentenced Mizuhara in February after he pleaded guilty to the charges. He was initially ordered to report to prison in March, but was twice granted a deadline extension at his request. Related coverage: Ex-Ohtani interpreter gets nearly 5 yrs in prison over bank fraud Prosecutors seek 4 yrs in prison for Ohtani's ex-interpreter Mizuhara
The Mainichi
17-06-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Ex-Ohtani interpreter Mizuhara reports to US prison
LOS ANGELES (Kyodo) -- Ippei Mizuhara, a former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, is in U.S. federal prison, prison authorities said Monday, after being sentenced for stealing nearly $17 million from the baseball player. His incarceration in Pennsylvania comes after Mizuhara, 40, was sentenced to a prison term of four years and nine months and was ordered to surrender himself to authorities by Monday, according to his attorney. Mizuhara is being held in a low-security prison in Allenwood, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. His defense has said he is likely to be deported to Japan after completing his sentence, as he is not an American citizen. According to court documents, Mizuhara misappropriated $16.59 million from one of Ohtani's bank accounts from November 2021 through March 2024 to pay a bookmaker to cover gambling debts. Mizuhara also stole around $380,000 to buy baseball cards to resell them and to pay for his dental work. Additionally, he submitted a false tax return for 2022, knowing the income he had received that year far exceeded the amount reported, the documents said. The incident stunned the baseball world and Ohtani's fans after it emerged through media reports in March last year. Mizuhara came to the United States in 2018 to work as Ohtani's interpreter when the two-way star began his MLB career with the Los Angeles Angels. Mizuhara initially falsely told U.S. sports network ESPN that Ohtani had sent him the money to pay off his gambling debts. A federal district court in California sentenced Mizuhara in February after he pleaded guilty to the charges. He was initially ordered to report to prison in March, but was twice granted a deadline extension at his request.
Japan Today
17-06-2025
- Japan Today
Ohtani's ex-interpreter reports to federal prison in Pennsylvania
The former Japanese interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani surrendered to a federal prison in Pennsylvania on Monday, beginning a nearly five-year prison sentence for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player. Ippei Mizuhara, 40, was processed at a low security federal prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, his attorney Michael Freedman confirmed. The facility is about 200 kilometers northwest of Philadelphia. Mizuhara was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana in February to four years and nine months for bank and tax fraud. He was also ordered to pay $18 million in restitution, with nearly $17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the IRS. He was sentenced to three years' supervised release on top of the prison sentence. Authorities said Mizuhara began accessing Ohtani's account beginning in 2021 and changed its security protocols so he could impersonate Ohtani to authorize wire transfers. He has admitted to using the money to cover his growing gambling bets and debts with an illegal bookmaker, in addition to purchasing $325,000 worth of baseball cards and paying his own dental bills. He was a close friend and confidant to Ohtani, standing by his side for many of his career highlights, from serving as his catcher during the Home Run Derby at the 2021 All-Star Game, to being there for his two American League MVP wins and his record-shattering $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Boston Globe
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Baseball star Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter reports to federal prison in Pennsylvania
Advertisement Authorities said Mizuhara began accessing Ohtani's account beginning in 2021 and changed its security protocols so he could impersonate Ohtani to authorize wire transfers. He has admitted to using the money to cover his growing gambling bets and debts with an illegal bookmaker, in addition to purchasing $325,000 worth of baseball cards and paying his own dental bills. He was a close friend and confidant to Ohtani, standing by his side for many of his career highlights, from serving as his catcher during the Home Run Derby at the 2021 All-Star Game, to being there for his two American League MVP wins and his record-shattering $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani is set to make his highly anticipated pitching debut Monday night for the Dodgers nearly two years after having elbow surgery. Advertisement
Kyodo News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Ex-Ohtani interpreter Mizuhara reports to U.S. prison
KYODO NEWS - 5 minutes ago - 13:18 | Sports, All Ippei Mizuhara, a former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, is in U.S. federal prison, prison authorities said Monday, after being sentenced for stealing nearly $17 million from the baseball player. His incarceration in Pennsylvania comes after Mizuhara, 40, was sentenced to a prison term of four years and nine months and was ordered to surrender himself to authorities by Monday, according to his attorney. Mizuhara is being held in a low-security prison in Allenwood, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. His defense has said he is likely to be deported to Japan after completing his sentence, as he is not an American citizen. According to court documents, Mizuhara misappropriated $16.59 million from one of Ohtani's bank accounts from November 2021 through March 2024 to pay a bookmaker to cover gambling debts. Mizuhara also stole around $380,000 to buy baseball cards to resell them and to pay for his dental work. Additionally, he submitted a false tax return for 2022, knowing the income he had received that year far exceeded the amount reported, the documents said. The incident stunned the baseball world and Ohtani's fans after it emerged through media reports in March last year. Mizuhara came to the United States in 2018 to work as Ohtani's interpreter when the two-way star began his MLB career with the Los Angeles Angels. Mizuhara initially falsely told U.S. sports network ESPN that Ohtani had sent him the money to pay off his gambling debts. A federal district court in California sentenced Mizuhara in February after he pleaded guilty to the charges. He was initially ordered to report to prison in March, but was twice granted a deadline extension at his request. Related coverage: Ex-Ohtani interpreter gets nearly 5 yrs in prison over bank fraud Prosecutors seek 4 yrs in prison for Ohtani's ex-interpreter Mizuhara
