In a shocking turn of events, Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers' star Shohei Ohtani, has been charged with felony bank fraud. Mizuhara is accused of transferring over $16 million from Ohtani's bank accounts to finance his illicit sports gambling activities, according to prosecutors.

United States attorney Martin Estrada revealed during a news conference in Los Angeles that Mizuhara had used the funds to fuel his voracious appetite for illegal sports betting. Mizuhara's actions came to light after a thorough investigation conducted by federal authorities.

The Dodgers terminated Mizuhara's employment on March 20, and federal authorities subsequently filed a criminal complaint against him. If convicted, Mizuhara may face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

Negotiations between Mizuhara and federal authorities are reportedly underway, with The New York Times reporting that he is considering pleading guilty. However, the details of any proposed plea deal remain unknown at this time.

According to the complaint filed against Mizuhara, his manipulation of Ohtani's bank accounts commenced in 2021, around the same period when he began engaging in sports betting. Mizuhara took control of an account that received Ohtani's baseball salary, ensuring that it remained inaccessible to others in Ohtani's inner circle by claiming that the player desired its privacy.

Moreover, the complaint revealed that Mizuhara had impersonated Ohtani in conversations with bank officials, further deceiving them. In a shocking revelation, it was uncovered that Mizuhara had previously admitted to funneling a staggering $4.5 million to Mathew Bowyer, an alleged illegal bookmaker, from Ohtani's account.

Federal authorities confirmed that the bets made using Ohtani's funds did not pertain to the sport of baseball. Investigators thoroughly reviewed text logs between Ohtani and Mizuhara but found no evidence of any discussions regarding gambling. As a result, Ohtani is regarded as a victim in this case, with no indication that he authorized the transfers to bookmakers.

The news of Mizuhara's criminal charges has sent ripples through the baseball community and has left fans and peers of Ohtani stunned. Further developments in the case are awaited as negotiations continue and the legal proceedings unfold.