Ippei Mizuhara, the former translator of Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani, leaves the federal court in Los Angeles, California, USA on May 14, 2024.
Mike Black | Reuters
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers great Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of stealing millions of dollars from the baseball icon.
Suwon IppeiThe 39-year-old appeared in a Santa Ana courtroom and pleaded guilty to bank fraud and falsifying tax returns, among other charges.
U.S. District Court Judge John Holcomb has scheduled Mizuhara’s sentencing on October 25
Prosecutors said Suwon began placing bets with an illegal bookmaker in September 2021, resulting in huge bills.
When news of the federal investigation first leaked in March, there were concerns that Ohtani might be involved in baseball betting, a practice strictly prohibited under MLB guidelines.
But federal prosecutors made clear that they viewed Ohtani purely as a victim of Suwon, who took advantage of the players’ trust in him.
Prosecutors said Suwon used Daegu’s password to gain access to his bank account without Daegu’s knowledge or permission to pay off gambling debts.
Ohtani, arguably the most famous baseball player in the world, is in his seventh MLB season.
he signed a Heavy-duty, team-friendly $700 million contract Dodgers past offseason. He spent his first six seasons in North America with nearby teams Los Angeles Angels.
Ohtani is one of the most valuable players in baseball due to his ability to hit and pitch at a high level, feats not seen since In the early 20th century, Babe Ruth Still with the Boston Red Sox.
Two-way star Ohtani is still recovering from an elbow injury that will keep him out of the mound in 2024 and limit his activity in the batter’s box.
Ohtani remains one of the most valuable players in baseball, despite being a one-dimensional performer this season. On Tuesday, Ohtani had a hit, a double, a home run, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
–Contributed by Linda Takahashi.
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