Mar 2018
Mizuhara helps Ohtani open a bank account in Phoenix
Mizuhara accompanied Ohtani to a bank in Phoenix to open an account to receive his MLB salary, according to the US Attorney's Office. This was the account later used for the transfers.
Court case
How the case against Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter unfolded
Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani's Japanese-language interpreter and de facto manager, was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers in March 2024 and charged in federal court with taking nearly $17 million from Ohtani's bank account to pay debts to an illegal bookmaker. He pleaded guilty to bank fraud and subscribing to a false tax return and was sentenced in February 2025 to 57 months in prison. Prosecutors and Major League Baseball treated Ohtani as a victim of the fraud.
September 2021 to today · 20 dated events · 11 sources
Where it stands now · as of 1 November 2026
Mizuhara is serving a 57 month federal prison term, which he began at a low security prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania in June 2025, and owes restitution of $16,975,010 to Ohtani and $1,149,400 to the IRS. Front Office Sports reported that his lawyers called deportation to Japan after release a virtual certainty in his plea agreement.
In 30 seconds: the turning points
- Nov 2021 Mizuhara takes control of Ohtani's account
- 20 Mar 2024 Dodgers fire Mizuhara and MLB opens an investigation
- 11 Apr 2024 Mizuhara charged with federal bank fraud
- 4 Jun 2024 Mizuhara pleads guilty in Santa Ana
- 4 Jun 2024 MLB closes its investigation and calls Ohtani a victim
- 6 Feb 2025 Mizuhara sentenced to 57 months in prison
Stage
1. Investigation
2. Charged
3. Plea
4. Sentence
5. Custody
Timeline of events
Overview · Sep 2021 to 29 Aug 2025 · click a dot to jump
2018
· · · 42 months later
2021
Sep 2021
Mizuhara begins betting with an illegal bookmaker
Prosecutors said Mizuhara began placing sports bets with an illegal bookmaker in September 2021.
Nov 2021
Turning point
Mizuhara takes control of Ohtani's account
From no later than November 2021 to March 2024, Mizuhara used Ohtani's password without permission and changed the account's registered email and phone number so bank employees would contact him, according to the US Attorney's Office. Prosecutors said he impersonated Ohtani in about 24 calls to the bank.
· · · 20 months later
2023
20 Jun 2023
500,000 dollar transfer to a bookmaker's associate
Prosecutors said Mizuhara transferred $500,000 from Ohtani's account to an associate of the bookmaker on 20 June 2023.
Sep 2023
Dental bills charged to Ohtani's account
According to prosecutors, Mizuhara charged $60,000 of his own dental work to Ohtani's account and then deposited into his own account a $60,000 check Ohtani had written for that work.
2024
Jan 2024
Baseball card purchases from the account
Between January and March 2024, Mizuhara spent about $325,000 from Ohtani's account on baseball cards he intended to resell, the US Attorney's Office said.
Feb 2024
False 2022 tax return signed
Mizuhara signed a false 2022 federal income tax return reporting taxable income of $136,865 while leaving out $4.1 million, according to the US Attorney's Office. He admitted owing about $1,149,400 in additional tax.
19 Mar 2024
Mizuhara gives ESPN an account he later retracts
Mizuhara told ESPN on 19 March 2024 that Ohtani had paid his gambling debts, and the next day said Ohtani had no knowledge of the debts and had sent no money to bookmakers, the Associated Press reported, citing ESPN.
20 Mar 2024
Turning point
Dodgers fire Mizuhara and MLB opens an investigation
The Dodgers fired Mizuhara on 20 March 2024, ESPN reported, after Ohtani's attorneys accused him of what they called massive theft. MLB's Department of Investigations opened its own inquiry, according to MLB.com.
25 Mar 2024
Ohtani denies betting or knowingly paying the bookmaker
At a news conference at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani denied betting on sports or knowingly paying the debts, the Associated Press reported.
“I never bet on sports or have willfully sent money to the bookmaker.”Shohei Ohtani, Associated Press (via GV Wire)
11 Apr 2024
Turning point
Mizuhara charged with federal bank fraud
Federal prosecutors charged Mizuhara with bank fraud, alleging he took more than $16 million from Ohtani's accounts to cover gambling debts, the Associated Press reported. US Attorney Martin Estrada said there was no evidence Ohtani knew and that Ohtani had cooperated fully. Mizuhara was presumed innocent at this stage.
“Mr. Ohtani is considered a victim in this case.”Martin Estrada, US Attorney for the Central District of California, Associated Press (via GV Wire)
8 May 2024
Plea agreement announced on two counts
The US Attorney's Office said Mizuhara had agreed to plead guilty to bank fraud, with a maximum of 30 years, and subscribing to a false tax return, with a maximum of three years. It said he obtained more than $16,975,010 from Ohtani and lied to Ohtani's agents and financial advisers who asked for access to the account.
“The extent of this defendant's deception and theft is massive.”Martin Estrada, US Attorney, US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
4 Jun 2024
Turning point
Mizuhara pleads guilty in Santa Ana
Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank fraud and subscribing to a false tax return before US District Judge John W. Holcomb at a change of plea hearing in Santa Ana, ESPN and MLB.com reported. He told the judge he did not report the money on his taxes. Sentencing was set for 25 October 2024.
“I had fallen into major gambling debt, and the only way that I could think of was to use his money.”Ippei Mizuhara, in court, ESPN
4 Jun 2024
Turning point
MLB closes its investigation and calls Ohtani a victim
After the plea, MLB said the federal investigation had been thorough, its own information gathering was adequate and the criminal case had been resolved, and closed its inquiry, MLB.com reported.
“MLB considers Shohei Ohtani a victim of fraud and this matter has been closed.”Major League Baseball statement, MLB.com
9 Aug 2024
Bookmaker Mathew Bowyer pleads guilty in a separate case
Mathew Bowyer, the bookmaker who took Mizuhara's bets, pleaded guilty in federal court in Santa Ana to operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering and subscribing to a false tax return, the Associated Press and the US Attorney's Office reported. AP said he had cooperated with investigators, including in the Mizuhara prosecution.
2025
Jan 2025
Sentencing filings set out competing accounts
In January 2025 filings, Mizuhara and members of his family sent letters saying he had been severely underpaid and on call around the clock, and his lawyers described a severe gambling addiction and asked for 18 months, Front Office Sports reported. It said prosecutors disputed his claims of serious debt and addiction and received the full sentence they had sought.
6 Feb 2025
Turning point
Mizuhara sentenced to 57 months in prison
Judge Holcomb sentenced Mizuhara to 57 months in federal prison and ordered restitution of $16,975,010 to Ohtani and $1,149,400 to the IRS, and ordered him to surrender by 24 March, the US Attorney's Office said. Front Office Sports reported that the judge found Mizuhara's letter was not credible and that he received three years of supervised release.
“Mr. Mizuhara had a unique position of trust that gave him power, brought him fame, and paid him well”Joseph T. McNally, Acting US Attorney, US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
24 Mar 2025
Surrender date postponed under seal
Mizuhara did not begin his sentence on the scheduled date, the Associated Press reported, citing federal prosecutors who said his surrender date had been postponed. A Justice Department spokesperson said the reason and the new date were under seal.
16 Jun 2025
Mizuhara reports to federal prison in Pennsylvania
Mizuhara reported to a low security federal prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania to begin his sentence, which his attorney Michael Freedman confirmed, the Associated Press reported.
29 Aug 2025
Bookmaker sentenced to a year and a day
Judge Holcomb sentenced Bowyer to 12 months and one day in federal prison and ordered him to pay $1,613,280 in restitution, the US Attorney's Office said. The AP reported that the restitution was owed to the IRS and that Mizuhara's net betting losses with Bowyer were nearly $41 million.
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Sources
11 records, ranked by type- 1Government document6 Feb 2025Former Interpreter Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Prison for Illegally Transferring Nearly $17 MillionUS Attorney's Office for the Central District of California · justice.gov
- 2Government document8 May 2024Orange County Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Illegally Transferring Nearly $17 Million from MLB Player's AccountUS Attorney's Office for the Central District of California · justice.gov
- 3News report11 Apr 2024Ohtani's ex-interpreter charged with stealing $16M in betting caseAssociated Press (via GV Wire) · gvwire.com
- 4Subject's own statement4 Jun 2024Mizuhara pleads guilty to fraud charges, MLB closes investigationMLB.com · mlb.com
- 5News report4 Jun 2024Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, pleads guiltyESPN · global.espn.com
- 6News report6 Feb 2025Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani interpreter, sentencedFront Office Sports · frontofficesports.com
- 7Social media post29 Aug 2025Bookmaker linked to baseball star Shohei Ohtani's interpreter sentenced to just over a year
Associated Press (via News4Jax) · news4jax.com - 8News report16 Jun 2025Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter reports to federal prison in PennsylvaniaAssociated Press (via Fox Sports) · foxsports.com
- 9News report25 Mar 2025Baseball star Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter has prison start postponed
Associated Press (via Fox News) · foxnews.com - 10Government document29 Aug 2025Orange County Man Sentenced to One Year in Federal Prison for Running Illegal Sports Betting BusinessUS Attorney's Office for the Central District of California · justice.gov
- 11News report9 Aug 2024Bookie pleads guilty to running illegal gambling business used by ex-Ohtani interpreterAssociated Press (via Fox Baltimore) · foxbaltimore.com
Last updated 1 November 2026. Spotted an error? See corrections. Every event links to the record it comes from. Allegations are attributed to whoever made them.