Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $17 million from the Japanese baseball player in order to pay off illegal gambling debts. The news of his guilty plea came shortly after MLB announced a lifetime ban for San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano in connection to a separate gambling scandal. Marcano was found to have placed 387 baseball bets totalling over $150,000 between October 2022 and November of the same year with a legal sportsbook. This decision marked the first time in a century that an active player has been banned for life due to gambling, with four others also receiving suspensions on the same day.
Mizuhara, who previously worked as an interpreter for the Los Angeles Dodgers player, pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud in a federal court on Tuesday. He specifically pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, which can carry a maximum 30-year prison sentence, and one count of filing a false tax return, which can result in a maximum three-year prison sentence, according to the US Attorney’s Office. Sentencing is scheduled for October 25th as ordered by US District Judge John Holcomb.
In recent years, it has become increasingly common for professional athletes to become involved in gambling scandals. The widespread availability of online sportsbooks and other forms of legal gambling has made it easier than ever before for athletes to place bets and hide their activities from public view. However, this increased accessibility has also made it easier for athletes like Marcano and Mizuhara to get caught up in dangerous financial situations that can ultimately lead to criminal charges and even permanent damage to their careers.
