When initial reports broke late March that Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his former translator was involved in a gambling scandal, the $4.5 million used to pay off sports betting debts turned out to just scratch the surface.
The U.S. Department of Justice released a legal document charging translator Ippei Mizuhara with bank fraud on Thursday.
The 37-page filing painted a much more detailed, and higher financial, picture of the scandal.
This guy wasn’t betting his lunch money. Mizuhara was, allegedly, throwing around serious cash that he didn’t actually have, but unfortunately for Ohtani, he had access to obtain.
While DOJ’s alleged information validates Ohtani’s stance that the $700-million man was not involved in sports betting and that no baseball bets were ever placed, Ohtani’s friend had access to the Dodgers star’s bank account and allegedly wired “more than $16 million” to illegal bookmaker Matthew Bowyer.
A bettor-bookie relationship that goes back to December 2021 allegedly involves some staggering numbers.
Up until this January, Mizuhara wagered $182,935,206, according to the DOJ. He totaled $142,256,769 in losing bets, leaving Mizuhara with a net loss of $40.7 million.
| Mizuhara’s wagering activity | (From DOJ’s document) |
|---|---|
| Total lost | $182.93 million |
| Total won | $142.25 million |
| Net loss | $40.7 million |
| Average bet | $12,800 |
The Ippei Mizuhara investigation has revealed some wild findings. Per DOJ:
— Covers (@Covers) April 11, 2024
🔸Mizuhara stole over $16 million from Ohtani
🔸Placed 19,000 bets, including one of $160,000
🔸Lost over $40,000,000 on sports betting. pic.twitter.com/UyXUI7fVmC
Betraying a friend
Mizuhara wasn’t just a translator for Ohtani. He was essentially the player’s personal assistant and close friend who had access to much of Ohtani’s life.
The DOJ’s report shows the kind of high-volume bettor Mizuhara was for more than two years. His bet size was everywhere from $10 to $160,000 on a single wager. He made 19,000 bets with Bowyer, an average of nearly 25 bets daily and $320,000 per day.
Prosecutors allege that Mizuhara changed the phone number associated with Ohtani’s bank account to Mizuhara’s cell. He also set up an email account to link to the bank account.
Mizuhara allegedly made recorded phone calls to the bank falsely claiming to be Ohtani to verify the wire transfers.
Clearing Ohtani
The DOJ supported Ohtani’s claim that he didn’t know of the fraud until last month. Prosecutors combed thousands of text messages between the two friends and Mizuhara and the bookie. Nothing was found that shows Ohtani had knowledge of the gambling or took part in it in any way.
Mizuhara had legal sports betting accounts with BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings, but no records showed any accounts under Ohtani’s name.
Mizuhara admitted in a text to Bowyer that Ohtani didn’t know he stole the money, and added that “it’s over for me.”
Mizuhara was reportedly scheduled to turn himself into authorities on Friday afternoon.
He faces up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud.
