Funds Misappropriation Leads to $17 Million Scam: Mizuhara Implicated
In a shocking twist, Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter, found himself locked away in a low-security federal prison in Pennsylvania. The cause? Good ol' fashioned bank and tax fraud, amounting to a whopping $17 million swiped from the MLB superstar.
In June 2024, Mizuhara unwillingly dropped the soap, er, surrendered to authorities following a guilty plea, admitting to his fraudulent deeds. The judge initially delayed his reporting date, but the reasons for this delay remain under lock and key.
Mizuhara, a Japanese chap who's spent time in Cali, is looking at deportation upon his release. His attorney confirmed this, stating it's a foregone conclusion. Care to take a wild guess who Mizuhara served time with? None other than Shohei Ohtani! The duo's relationship dates back to their days in Japan and stepped up a notch when they moved stateside. Sadly, Mizuhara hit a rough patch, managing to get a hold of Ohtani's bank account. Using his powers for ill, Mizuhara embezzled half-a-mil every two weeks to clear gambling debts.
Authorities claim Mizuhara's winnings and losses dwarf those of even the wildest high-rollers. Over two years, Mizuhara placed a staggering 19,000 bets, ending with a net loss of over $40 million! Not exactly a winning streak, bro. To make matters worse, Mizuhara owed a chunk of this debt to a nefarious bookie named Matthew Bowyer, who's now awaiting sentencing. Ouch!
Craving more details? Here's the lowdown on Mizuhara's sentence: He's serving a 57-month stint in the Federal Correctional Institution Allenwood Low. Additionally, he must cough up the stolen cash to both Ohtani and the IRS (ouch, again!). Aw shucks, Mizuhara mustered up enough courage to express regret earlier this year, stating he's "truly sorry" for his actions. Let's hope this serves as a cautionary tale for those who think they can get away with chicanery!
In light of the rising general-news, it's worth noting that the sports world, specifically crime-and-justice, has taken an unexpected turn with Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, found guilty of bank and tax fraud related to sports-betting. Mizuhara's illegal activities led to a staggering loss of $40 million, with a net loss of over $20 million owed to a notorious bookie, Matthew Bowyer, who is also awaiting sentencing.
