From the start of the sports betting discussion, Los Angeles Dodgers actor Shohei Ohtani’s reason that his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, wired millions of dollars to house sports bets via Ohtani’s bank accounts without Ohtani’s information has invited suspicion.
How was someone—especially people like Ohtani who is surrounded by business managers, agents and accountants who apparently observe his finances—not hear of illicit banking transactions? And why would n’t the bank confirm those transfers with Ohtani?
It has all seemed a small hard to believe. Some people have questioned whether Ohtani, who insists he does n’t gamble, authorized the transfers and is using Mizuhara as a fall guy or scapegoat.

The course of the discussion may change as a result of a recent development on Wednesday.
Mizuhara is negotiating with national authorities to enter a guilty plea to federal crimes connected to the line purchases, according to The New York Times. The acts are not identified, but as Sportico recently reported, possible crimes include cable fraud, aggravated identity theft, infraction of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and, if other people were involved in the robbery, crime. Mizuhara could potentially face decades in prison, while by pleading innocent and taking responsibility, he would probably receive a many- reduced sentence.
One obvious question is why Ohtani, his advisors and the bank would n’t have noticed at least$ 4.5 million in stolen funds over multiple transactions. Authorities claim that Mizuhara disabled bank alerts, making Ohtani “wo n’t receive alerts and confirmations about transactions.”
For prosecutors to accept a guilty plea from Mizuhara, they would need to be persuaded that his account is accurate and that he is not lying to others. Mizuhara would need to provide testimony and turn over all of the evidence, including pertinent texts, emails, and social media messages as well as the alleged dates for the wired money. Prosecutors would likely confirm with banking officials that data, including IP addresses, match Mizuhara’s retellings and ask those officials how their systems failed to detect Mizuhara’s illicit activities. Discrepancies between what Mizuhara claims and what the evidence proves would lessen the likelihood of prosecutors accepting a plea deal.
Mizuhara might also have to consent to testify against others, including those in California who placed the bets in a state where sports betting is prohibited. According to a report from ESPN, Mizuhara may have connections to California bookmaker Matthew Bowyer and his betting business, which is being looked into.
Even if Mizuhara avoids a trial by pleading guilty, Ohtani could still become a witness—and potentially have to testify—if Mizuhara’s associates are prosecuted and Mizuhara is a government witness.
Mizuhara would stand to gain a significant blow to a player who signed a record-breaking$ 700 million contract in the offseason by admitting to theft from Ohtani. It would back up Ohtani’s claim that he is a victim and has not violated any MLB regulations or laws.