(Los Angeles) The former translator of Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani was released on bail Friday and ordered to undergo treatment for gambling addiction following his first appearance in a US court for stealing $16 million from the player.
Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s interpreter and close friend, was charged Thursday with embezzlement of more than $16 million belonging to the Los Angeles Dodgers star player to repay debts accumulated during illegal betting.
He was led into the dock at Los Angeles federal court on Friday, his ankles shackled, for a brief hearing before Judge Maria Audero.
Federal prosecutors say he embezzled millions from the bank account of the player, considered an absolute baseball genius, to finance his “insatiable thirst” for gambling.
At Friday’s hearing, he barely spoke, saying “yes” when asked if he understood the charges against him. He then acquiesced when the conditions of his release were stated.
Judge Audero set his bond at $25,000 and said his formal arraignment would be May 9.
In the meantime, he is prohibited from traveling outside the region and having contact with Ohtani.
He was also ordered not to engage in any form of gambling and to begin treatment for gambling addiction. His lawyer Michael Freedman said he “fully intended to do so”.
After Friday’s hearing, Mr.e Freedman issued a statement saying his client apologized and wanted to reach a speedy resolution to this matter.
The ex-translator allegedly made more than 19,000 illegal sports bets averaging $12,800 per bet between December 2021 and January 2024, sinking into debt and losing $40.7 million, according to court documents .
The money transfers from Ohtani’s current account, made between November 2021 and January 2024, had not been authorized by the 29-year-old and there is no suggestion he was aware of his friend’s bets, a said Thursday the prosecutor in charge of the case, Martin Estrada.
Bank fraud, of which Ippei Mizuhara is accused, carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.