The previous Japanese interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani surrendered to a federal jail in Pennsylvania on Monday, starting an almost five-year jail sentence for financial institution and tax fraud after he stole almost $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers participant.
Ippei Mizuhara, 40, was processed at a low-security federal jail in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, his lawyer Michael Freedman confirmed. The power is about 125 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Mizuhara was sentenced in federal court docket in Santa Ana in February to 4 years and 9 months for financial institution and tax fraud. He was additionally ordered to pay $18 million in restitution, with almost $17 million going to Ohtani and the rest to the IRS. He was sentenced to a few years’ supervised launch on high of the jail sentence.
Authorities stated Mizuhara started accessing Ohtani’s account starting in 2021 and altered its safety protocols so he may impersonate Ohtani to authorize wire transfers. He has admitted to utilizing the cash to cowl his rising playing bets and money owed with an unlawful bookmaker, along with buying $325,000 value of baseball playing cards and paying his personal dental payments.
He was an in depth buddy and confidant to Ohtani, standing by his facet for a lot of of his profession highlights, from serving as his catcher in the course of the Residence Run Derby on the 2021 All-Star Recreation, to being there for his two American League MVP wins and his record-shattering $700 million, 10-year cope with the Dodgers.
Ohtani made his extremely anticipated pitching debut on Monday night time almost two years after having elbow surgical procedure.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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