Ippei Mizuhara pleads guilty to $17M fraud, faces sentencing

Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return after stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani. A key piece of evidence is a four-minute audio recording where Mizuhara impersonates Ohtani to authorize a $200,000 wire transfer, claiming it was for a car loan. Prosecutors are recommending a nearly five-year prison sentence and restitution of the stolen funds to Ohtani, along with over $1 million to the IRS. Mizuhara's defense attributes his actions to a severe gambling addiction, which resulted in a $40.7 million debt. However, prosecutors argue that his use of the funds for personal expenses unrelated to gambling undermines this defense. Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, where Mizuhara faces significant legal repercussions for his fraudulent activities.