Los Angeles, CA - Ippei Mizuhara, the former longtime interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, has been charged with federal bank fraud by federal authorities. The charges allege that Mizuhara stole over $16 million from Ohtani's accounts to cover his own gambling debts.

Mizuhara had served as Ohtani's interpreter since his arrival in the United States in 2018. According to U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, Mizuhara acted as Ohtani's de facto manager. He helped the baseball sensation set up a bank account for his salary, but instead, he used this opportunity to embezzle funds for his own sports betting activities.

Estrada stated that Mizuhara "used and abused" his position of trust with Ohtani to gain unauthorized access to his bank accounts. The former interpreter then allegedly lied to the bank to withdraw funds for his gambling pursuits. The complaint alleges that this fraud was carried out on a large scale.

However, there is no evidence to suggest that Ohtani was aware of Mizuhara's actions. In fact, Ohtani has fully cooperated with investigators, emphasizing that he is a victim in this case. Estrada confirmed Ohtani's innocence, stating that the baseball player had no involvement in Mizuhara's fraudulent activities.

Mizuhara is expected to appear in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles for his initial appearance soon. His attorney, Michael G. Freedman, declined to comment on the charges at this time.

If convicted, Mizuhara faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for the bank fraud charge. The scandal led to his immediate dismissal from the Dodgers, and Major League Baseball has initiated a separate investigation into the matter.

Ohtani, who recently signed a record-breaking $700 million contract with the Dodgers, had been accompanied by Mizuhara as a daily companion since 2018 when he joined the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani clarified in a press conference that he had never bet on sports or knowingly paid any gambling debts from his interpreter.

The investigation into Mizuhara's fraudulent activities progressed swiftly, with charges being filed three weeks after news of the scandal surfaced. The case is part of a larger probe into illegal sports bookmaking organizations in Southern California and money laundering through Las Vegas casinos.

As for the ongoing investigation by Major League Baseball, there is no information available at the moment regarding its progress. MLB strictly prohibits players and team employees from engaging in any form of wagering, including legal or offshore betting on baseball or other sports.