In a shocking turn of events, Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers' star Shohei Ohtani, has surrendered to federal authorities after being charged with bank fraud. Mizuhara is accused of allegedly stealing over $16 million from Ohtani's bank account to fund his illegal sports betting activities.

Mizuhara, 39, turned himself in to authorities on Friday morning and is expected to make his initial court appearance in downtown Los Angeles later in the day. It is anticipated that the appearance will be brief, and Mizuhara may be released on bond.

If convicted as charged, Mizuhara could face up to 30 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized that Ohtani is considered a victim in this case and there is no evidence to suggest that Ohtani authorized the transfers.

According to Estrada, Mizuhara had unprecedented access to Ohtani's personal affairs due to his close relationship with the baseball player. Mizuhara helped Ohtani establish a bank account in Arizona, which eventually became the source of wire transfers to the illegal gambling operation.

Major League Baseball (MLB) opened its own investigation following the scandal, and the Dodgers swiftly fired Mizuhara. MLB rules prohibit players and team employees from wagering on baseball or betting with illegal bookmakers.

The extent of Mizuhara's theft shocked the sports community. It was revealed that Mizuhara made approximately 19,000 wagers between December 2021 and January 2024, averaging almost 25 bets per day. While his winning bets amounted to over $142 million, his losses totaled around $183 million, resulting in a net loss of nearly $41 million.

The criminal complaint against Mizuhara included text messages, financial records, and recordings of phone calls. In one message to his bookmaker, Mizuhara acknowledged the theft, stating, "Technically I did steal from him. It's all over for me."

Shohei Ohtani, who signed a record $700 million contract with the Dodgers, spoke out about the allegations against his former interpreter. Ohtani stated that he had no knowledge of Mizuhara's gambling debts and had never bet on sports or knowingly paid any gambling debts on Mizuhara's behalf.

The investigation surrounding Mizuhara's case is part of a broader probe into illegal sports bookmaking organizations operating in Southern California and the laundering of proceeds through Las Vegas casinos. So far, 12 criminal defendants and one money service business have faced charges, and the investigations are ongoing with multiple targets.

As this scandal continues to unfold, the sports community awaits the outcome of Mizuhara's court appearance and the legal proceedings that will follow. Both Ohtani and MLB are cooperating fully with the investigation.

The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.