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The former interpreter for Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani was sentenced on Thursday to just about 5 years in federal jail and ordered to pay $1 million in again taxes, after pleading responsible final 12 months to stealing practically $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger.
Prosecutors accused Ippei Mizuhara, 40, who moved to the U.S. in 2018 with Ohtani and served as an in depth confidante in addition to a translator, of a multi-layered set of crimes involving the Dodgers star’s cash.
Mizuhara started accessing Ohtani’s accounts in 2021 and altered protocols to permit himself to impersonate the MLB icon and authorize wire transfers, prosecutors mentioned.
He then used the stolen funds to cowl private payments and place unlawful sports activities bets leading to a internet $41 million loss, in keeping with officers.
The Independent has contacted representatives of Ohtani and Mizuhara for remark.
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Ex-interpreter duped his famous person shopper, stole funds, and misplaced $41 million in sports activities bets, in keeping with prosecutors (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Officials mentioned Mizuhara by no means guess on baseball, and that Ohtani, maybe probably the most well-known participant within the sport, was unaware of the grift.
“His years-long theft of funds from Mr. Ohtani and the myriad lies he told to Mr. Ohtani’s agents and financial advisors to cover up his theft represent a calculated betrayal of the very person he was hired to help,” prosecutors argued within the case.
The protection initially sought a sentence of 18 months.
Mizuhara apologized for his actions and mentioned he carried out the scheme whereas hooked on playing.
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Shohei Ohtani is among the many most well-known gamers within the MLB, and the fraud scheme shocked the game (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
“I truly admire Shohei as a baseball player and a human being and I was committed to devote my life so Shohei can be the best version of himself on the field,” Mizuhara wrote in court docket paperwork. “I want to say I am truly sorry for violating his trust in me.”
After the allegations broke final 12 months, Mizuhara was fired from the Dodgers, and Major League Baseball opened its personal investigation.
The case was a uncommon darkish mark for Ohtani, who has a trophy cupboard together with a World Series win final 12 months, three MVP awards, and a $700 million, 10-year take care of the Dodgers, one of many largest in baseball historical past.
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