Title: Former Interpreter for Shohei Ohtani Charged with Stealing $16 Million for Illegal Gambling

Federal prosecutors have announced that they have charged Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, with stealing over $16 million from Ohtani to pay off debts to an alleged illegal bookmaker. The charge of bank fraud was announced by U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, E. Martin Estrada, at a news conference in downtown Los Angeles.

During the conference, Estrada emphasized that Ohtani is considered a victim in this case. He revealed that Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani in conversations with bank officials, placing thousands of wagers and depositing the winnings into a bank account under his control. Estrada stated that Mizuhara's actions were driven by his insatiable appetite for illegal sports gambling.

Mizuhara, a graduate of Diamond Bar High School and a constant presence by Ohtani's side since his first season with the Angels in 2018, did not respond to messages. Michael Freedman, an L.A.-based criminal defense attorney, confirmed that he represents Mizuhara but declined to comment further.

This development comes after a report by The Times on March 20, revealing that Ohtani's name had surfaced in the federal investigation of Mathew Bowyer, an alleged illegal bookmaker residing in Orange County. Ohtani's representatives accused Mizuhara of committing a "massive theft" of the player's money to place bets with Bowyer's organization.

Conflicting accounts emerged following the revelation, with Ohtani's agent initially providing no comment and later alleging that Mizuhara stole the money through wire transfers. Mizuhara himself claimed in an interview arranged by a spokesman that Ohtani had paid off his gambling debts, but the account was subsequently disavowed.

The situation became public during the Dodgers' season-opening win over the San Diego Padres when a camera captured Ohtani and Mizuhara laughing in the dugout. After the game, Mizuhara addressed the team along with Dodger executives, admitting to having a gambling problem and claiming that Ohtani had paid off his debts the previous year.

During a subsequent news conference, Ohtani revealed that it was only after this meeting that he learned about Mizuhara's significant debt. Ohtani immediately contacted his representatives, prompting his law firm to issue a statement regarding the "massive theft" and announcing their intention to involve the authorities. The Dodgers promptly terminated Mizuhara, and Major League Baseball announced an investigation into the matter two days later.

Ohtani vehemently denied involvement in the gambling activities, stating that Mizuhara had kept him in the dark about the media inquiries and the true nature of his actions. The international baseball icon stressed that he never bet on sports, requested someone to bet on his behalf, or made payments to a bookmaker from his bank account.

Ohtani's recent $700 million contract with the Dodgers, the largest in baseball history, has now been overshadowed by the ongoing controversy surrounding Mizuhara's criminal charges. The multi-talented player expressed his difficulty in finding words to describe the whirlwind of emotions he has experienced over the past week.

As the legal proceedings progress, the baseball world anxiously waits to see if justice will be served, and what impact this scandal will have on the career of Shohei Ohtani.