Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter now in jail for stealing almost $17M for playing money owed

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The previous interpreter of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani , Ippei Mizuhara, reported to federal jail in Pennsylvania on Monday, Mizuhara's legal professional Michael Freedman confirmed to Fox Information Digital.

Mizuhara was sentenced to 57 months in jail for stealing almost $17 million from Ohtani to repay playing money owed.

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Los Angeles Dodgers participant Shohei Ohtani, proper, and then-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities)

Federal prosecutors requested for a 57-month jail sentence whereas additionally asking Mizuhara to pay $16.9 million of restitution to Ohtani and one other $1.1 million to the IRS.

The Dodgers fired Mizuhara in March 2024.

Federal investigators filed a criticism in opposition to Mizuhara on April 11. At some point later, he turned himself in to law enforcement, the Division of Justice confirmed.

JOHNNY DAMON WEIGHS IN ON SHOHEI OHTANI CONTROVERSY, CALLS FOR PETE ROSE TO BE IN HALL OF FAME

Ippei Mizuhara (AP Picture/Eric Thayer, File)

Mizuhara pleaded responsible to financial institution fraud and submitting a false tax return in June 2024, admitting that he positioned about 19,000 bets with the bookie over a two-year interval and accrued over $40 million in debt.

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, left, talks with translator Ippei Mizuhara (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities)

Ohtani publicly addressed the playing scandal in late March, saying he had by no means positioned a sports activities guess and that Mizuhara's story about paying off his $4.5 million playing debt was fabricated.

Mizuhara was initially ordered to report back to jail in March, however a federal decide granted a delay. No purpose for the delay has been disclosed.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports activities author for Fox Information Digital. He beforehand labored for ESPN and Enterprise Insider. Jackson has lined the Tremendous Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.