Los Angeles – The former interpreter for the Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani It is expected to be sentenced on Thursday for bank and fiscal fraud after stealing almost $ 17 million from the bank account of the Los Angeles Dodgers players.
Federal prosecutors are looking for a four -year and nine -month prison sentence for IPPEI Mizuhara, who was supposed to close the gap between Ohtani and his English -speaking teammates while the duo was traveling from southern California to bathrooms In the United States, Mizuhara exploded, the Japanese-English language barrier to isolate Ohtani and benefit from his proximity to Bidirectional player The power.
Mizuhara is expected to appear in the Federal Court in the city of Santa Ana in Orange County. He declared himself guilty last year of bank and fiscal fraud after he was accused of stealing money to cover his growing game bets and debts with an illegal betting house, in addition to $ 325,000 at a value of $ 325,000. baseball cards and his own dental invoices.
The case possibly affected the The most famous baseball player in the world – Who previously launched for the angels of Los Angeles de Anaheim – and fueled a international media frenzy. It was derived from a broader investigation into illegal sports betting organizations in southern California and income washing through casinos in Las Vegas that has noted a dozen defendants.
“His robbery of a year of Mr. Ohtani and the myriad of lies that he told the agents and financial advisors of Mr. Ohtani to cover up his robbery represent a calculated betrayal of the person who was hired to help,” the prosecutors in court in court in court. papers.
They want Mizuhara to pay $ 17 million in restitution to Ohtani and $ 1 million at the service of internal taxes.
In a letter to the court, Mizuhara described his financial tension and his game addiction, which he hoped would relieve his money problems. He also professed his admiration for Ohtani and his remorse.
“I am asking for a little mercy on the Court about my prayer, you will deliver,” Mizuhara wrote. “I really admire Shohei as a baseball player and a human being and was committed to dedicating my life so that Shohei can be the best version of himself in the field. I mean that I really sorry to violate your trust in me. “
Mizuhara agreed to Ohtani’s account from 2021 and changed his security protocols to be able to impede wire transfers. By 2024, Mizuhara had used the money to buy around $ 325,000 on baseball cards in online resellers and had bet tens of millions of dollars that were not theirs to bet on international football, NBA, NFL and university football .
Prosecutors said Mizuhara never opted for baseball, and Ohtani was an unknown victim of the scheme.
“There is no doubt, Mr. Ohtani is really a victim and has suffered, and will continue to suffer, damage to the defendant’s behavior,” prosecutors wrote.
Michael G. Freedman, Mizuhara’s lawyer, wrote in the judicial presentations that his client is a game addict that made a “terrible mistake” and has suffered a loss of work and reputation. Mizuhara assumes the responsibility of his actions and hopes to be deported to his native Japan after fulfilling the time, Freedman wrote while requested a sentence of a year and a half.
Mizuhara was born in Japan and moved to California with his parents when he was 6 years old. He struggled to learn English but finally did it, and returned to Japan in 2013 to become an interpreter of a Japanese baseball team and then for Ohtani, according to the court, according to the court. filings.
The two formed a very close link, and Mizuhara moved with Ohtani in 2018 to the United States, where he assumed numerous errands for the player as the purchases of groceries, Freedman wrote.
Inside baseball, Mizuhara was next to Ohtani for many of The highlight of the athlete’s careerFrom serving as his receiver during the home run in the 2021 star game, until he is there for his two MVP victories of the American League and his record of $ 700 million, 10 years with the agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Outside the countryside, Mizuhara was the friend and confidant of Ohtani. He renounced Los Angeles Angels during the 2021 MLB block to continue talking with Ohtani, and was understood after an agreement was reached.
Last year, Ohtani and the Dodgers He won the World Series, and the baseball star won his third Most valuable player grant.
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