Ohtani’s Former Interpreter Sentenced To More Than 4 Years In Prison, Must Pay $18.1M For Stealing From Dodgers Superstar

deadline.com:

UPDATED with sentencing: Shohei Ohtani‘s former interpreter, who admitted stealing nearly $17 million from the Dodger slugger’s bank account to pay off illegal gambling debts, was sentenced today in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months in prison.

In addition to the sentence Ippei Mizuhara was also ordered to pay restitution of more than $18.1 million. Mizuhara pleaded guilty in June to one federal count each of bank fraud and subscribing to a false tax return.

The bank fraud charge could have sent him to prison for up to 30 years, while the tax charge carried up to three years in federal prison.

Mizuhara contended he committed the crimes due to a gambling addiction, but prosecutors said his actions went beyond gambling and into greed. “Even if defendant is addicted to gambling, it cannot fully explain defendant’s conduct because defendant used the stolen funds for numerous personal expenses that had nothing to do with gambling,” prosecutors wrote in court papers.