The case against Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter and close friend of baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, reveals a calculated scheme of financial betrayal involving bank fraud, identity theft, and illegal gambling. Mizuhara’s criminal activity, which spanned from December 2021 to January 2024, revolved around exploiting his access to Ohtani’s financial accounts and impersonating the two-way phenom to facilitate fraudulent transactions. The crux of the prosecution’s case rests on a four-minute audio recording, obtained by The Athletic from the Department of Justice, in which Mizuhara can be heard impersonating Ohtani during a phone call with a bank representative to secure a $200,000 car loan. This recording serves as irrefutable evidence of Mizuhara’s deceptive tactics and fraudulent intent.
The recording, which has been redacted to protect the identities of the bank and an unnamed co-conspirator, captures Mizuhara skillfully bypassing security measures. He falsely identifies himself as Ohtani, provides his own contact information for verification purposes, and successfully completes two-factor authentication, diverting the security code to his own phone. This manipulation enabled him to initiate the fraudulent loan request, all while maintaining the pretense of being Ohtani. The bank agent, alerted to recent trends in fraud and scams, questioned the purpose of the transaction and Mizuhara’s relationship with the supposed recipient, whom he claimed was a friend he had met numerous times. The agent’s inquiries, however, failed to deter Mizuhara, who maintained his fabricated narrative.
Mizuhara’s fraudulent activities extended beyond this single instance. Prosecutors allege that he conducted a series of illicit wire transfers from Ohtani’s accounts, accumulating a staggering loss of nearly $17 million. This substantial sum was primarily used to cover Mizuhara’s significant gambling debts, accumulated through his involvement with an illegal gambling operation run by Matthew Bowyer. Bowyer himself has also pleaded guilty to running the illicit enterprise. Mizuhara’s gambling activities, though extensive and financially devastating, notably did not involve betting on baseball, nor is there any implication of Ohtani’s involvement in any gambling activities.
The extent of Mizuhara’s deception becomes even clearer when considering the scale of his gambling operation. Between December 2021 and January 2024, he placed approximately 19,000 bets through Bowyer, amassing over $142 million in winnings but incurring losses exceeding $183 million. This ultimately resulted in a substantial debt of $40.7 million, a burden Mizuhara sought to alleviate by systematically pilfering from Ohtani’s accounts. The magnitude of the losses underscores the depth of Mizuhara’s gambling addiction and the desperate measures he took to conceal his financial ruin from Ohtani and his financial advisors.
The prosecution, in their court filing, highlighted the gravity of Mizuhara’s actions, emphasizing the calculated betrayal of trust he inflicted upon Ohtani, the very person he was employed to assist. Mizuhara not only stole substantial funds but also fabricated elaborate lies to maintain his deception, further compounding the damage to Ohtani’s trust and financial well-being. Prosecutors are seeking nearly $17 million in restitution for Ohtani, although they acknowledge Mizuhara’s inability to repay such a sum. Additionally, the IRS is seeking $1.1 million in restitution for unpaid taxes. Mizuhara is scheduled for sentencing on February 6th, where he faces a potential sentence of nearly five years.
Ohtani, in a statement released last year, expressed his profound shock and sadness over the betrayal. He described the experience as difficult to articulate, highlighting the deep personal impact of Mizuhara’s actions. The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential for financial exploitation, even within close personal relationships. Mizuhara’s exploitation of Ohtani’s trust showcases the devastating consequences of unchecked gambling addiction and the lengths to which individuals may go to conceal their financial struggles. The upcoming sentencing will determine the legal ramifications of Mizuhara’s actions, while Ohtani continues to grapple with the emotional and financial fallout of this profound betrayal.
