Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, released on $25,000 bail and ordered into gambling addiction treatment after court hearing on charges he stole $16 MILLION from MLB star

Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was released on $25,000 bail and ordered to undergo gambling addiction treatment after appearing in court accused of stealing $16 million from the Dodgers star to cover his debts.

The 39-year-old, who surrendered to authorities earlier Friday, did not enter a plea during the case in downtown Los Angeles. He apologized through a lawyer and was ordered to return for a May 9 arraignment.

Mizuhara is charged with one count of bank fraud and faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if convicted.

Wearing a dark suit and white shirt, he entered the courtroom with his ankles shackled before the judge granted his lawyer’s request to remove them.

Mizuhara is accused of linking the funds without Ohtani’s knowledge to an illegal sports betting operation. According to the federal affidavit, Mizuhara began gambling with the illegal book in late 2021 and lost significant amounts.

Mizuhara’s lawyer, Michael Freedman, issued a statement saying his client ‘wishes to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and his family.’

To cover his debt, Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani over the phone to ‘fool and deceive’ bank employees into authorizing wire transfers from Ohtani’s account into which the player’s baseball salary was deposited, the affidavit said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria A. Audero also ordered Mizuhara released on a $25,000 unsecured bond, meaning Mizuhara does not have to post cash or surety to be released. If he violates the terms of his bond, he’ll be on the hook for $25,000.

Mizuhara’s lawyer, Michael Freedman, issued a statement saying his client ‘wishes to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and his family.’

“He continues to cooperate with the legal process and is hopeful that he can reach an agreement with the government to resolve this matter as quickly as possible so that he can take responsibility,” Freedman said. The comment suggested Mizuhara was negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors.

Mizuhara is accused of stealing $16 million from the Dodgers star to cover his debts

The hearing came a day after prosecutors charged Mizuhara and publicly acquitted Ohtani in a case that had threatened to embroil the Dodgers, MLB and a power-hitting pitcher considered a national hero in his home state.

“For me personally, this is a break from this and I want to focus on baseball,” the Los Angeles Times quoted Ohtani as saying Friday in his first public comments since his former interpreter was indicted.

Other bond conditions stipulate that Mizuhara cannot gamble, either electronically or in person, or enter any gambling venues or associate with known bookmakers.

While Mizuhara’s winning bets totaled over $142 million, which he deposited into his own bank account and not Ohtani’s, his losing bets were around $183 million. – a net loss of almost $41 million.