Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter has been sentenced to 57 months in prison after stealing nearly $17 million to repay gambling debts.
John W. Holcomb, the U.S. District Judge who oversaw the trial, sentenced Ohtani to just shy of five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The disgraced interpreter was also ordered to pay nearly $17 million in compensation to the Los Angeles Dodger pitcher and $1.1 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Following an initial ESPN investigation in March 2024, Mizuhara was removed from his role as translator/interpreter with the team. The investigation uncovered that he had sent millions in wire transfers from Ohtani’s account to an illegal bookmaker.
Judge Condemns Mizuhara’s Actions
“The magnitude of the theft — $17 million — in my view, is shockingly high,” said the judge when delivering the outcome. Mizuhara had pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return, admitting to the court that he placed around 19,000 bets with the bookmaker over two years and had built up over $40 million in debt.
“I hope that Mr Mizuhara will be able to repay that sum,” added Holcomb.
The defendant was ordered to surrender to authorities. Although his attorney, Michael G. Freedman, said he expects the Japanese citizen to be deported at a later date, he will begin his sentence by 24 March 2025.
Mizuhara’s Plea for Mercy
Before being sentenced, Mizuhara spoke briefly, telling the court: “Thank you, your honor, for the opportunity to speak at sentencing. As I noted in my letter, I am truly sorry to Mr Ohtani.”
He added: “In my letter to you, I was not trying to justify my actions in any way, I was trying to show the circumstances of my situation. I am deeply sorry for what I have done, and I beg your mercy and promise that I will make the most of it.”
In a news release, Joseph T. McNally, Acting United States Attorney for the Central District of California, stated: “Mr. Mizuhara had a unique position of trust that gave him power, brought him fame, and paid him well.”
He continued: “Unfortunately, he exploited this dream job to steal millions of dollars from his friend and confidant. This is a sad tale of an American success story gone wrong — so wrong that Mr. Mizuhara will be spending years inside a prison cell.”
The defense argued for an 18-month sentence, claiming Mizuhara had a long-standing gambling addiction. Prosecutors countered that there was “minimal evidence” that the interpreter had gambled before he commended stealing from the MLS star.
Mizuhara placed bets with illegal operator Mathew Bowyer, who is set to be sentenced on 4 April 2025. California-based Bowyer claimed to the New York Post that while Mizuhara was using his services, he was himself an addict, “going to Vegas and betting millions of dollars.”
The bookmaker used Costa Rican-based offshore wagering platforms and a call center to service bettors. He also said in an interview that he knew Mizuhara was stealing, and despite failing to stop it, he now “feels guilty.”
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