A nearly four-minute audio recording of Ippei Mizuhara, who was Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, was released this week by federal prosecutors. The recording shows Mizuhara impersonating the Los Angeles Dodgers star to try to wire $200,000 from Ohtani’s bank account.
The prosecutors’ filing explains that Mizuhara called the bank 24 times, pretending to be Ohtani while speaking with an employee. He told the employee that he needed to send $200,000 for a car loan. When asked about his relationship to the person receiving the money, he said, “He’s my friend.”
The agent asked if Mizuhara had met the friend in person. Mizuhara replied, “Yes, many times.” Later, when asked if he planned to send more money to his friend, he said, “Possibly.”
Earlier in the spring, Mizuhara admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani to cover sports betting debts. Prosecutors requested that this amount be returned to Ohtani, along with an additional $1.1 million to the IRS.
In June, Mizuhara pleaded guilty to charges of bank and tax fraud in a federal court in California. Federal prosecutors have suggested a 57-month prison sentence, while Mizuhara’s lawyer has requested 18 months, citing Mizuhara’s gambling addiction and a debt of $40.7 million. His lawyer mentioned that Mizuhara is attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings three times a week.
Mizuhara is set to be sentenced on February 6.
The scandal first became public in March, just as Ohtani was getting ready for his first season with the Dodgers.
