Dodgers Fire Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter as Gambling Story Becomes Lost in Translation

A long-time translator for Los Angeles Dodgers principal participant Shohei Ohtani reportedly was tinned Midweek in the midst of unlawful play accusations.

It was revealed that the interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, 39, was cladding massive sports gambling debts, totaling at least $4.5M, owed to an allegedly illegal operation.

Based on an initial written report on Tuesday, Ohtani wired money to address his friend’s and colleague’s mounting losses.

But as to a greater extent details were revealed, a jurisprudence strong representing Ohtani said he was inwards fact the victim of a theft.

We discovered that Shohei has been the dupe of a monolithic theft, and we are turn the thing over to the authorities,” Mae West Hollywood-based law unfaltering Berk Brettler LLP said inwards a financial statement released on Wednesday afternoon.

The allegations came to wakeful after reporters asked about wire transfers which displayed Ohtani’s name.

That includes Ohtani’s nominate on ii $500K payments that were made inward Sept and October.

The transfers were sent from an account statement belonging to Ohtani to an link up linked to a bookmaking entity based in Southern California, ESPN ab initio reported. The bookmaking surgical operation is consort by Mathew Bowyer of California, according to ESPN.

Mizuhara told Ohani that he would eventually pay him back, according to Mizuhara’s statements on Tuesday.

Ohtani “wasn’t well-chosen nearly it and said he would help me come out to work sure i never get along this again,” Mizuhara ab initio told ESPN.

Two-time MLB MVP Ohtani, 29, is currently under a 10-year, $700-million take with the Dodgers. That is a tape amount for Second Earl of Guilford American professional sports. Originally from Japan, he formerly played for the Angels.

Story Quickly Changes

But Mizuhara’s edition of events changed by Wednesday afternoon.

During more recent statements, Ohtani was incognizant of Mizuhara’s gambling debts and Ohtani never wired money to the unnamed associate, Mizuhara told ESPN on Wed afternoon.

At no clip were there accusations which link Ohtani to gambling, ESPN further reported.

It appears Mizuhara wagered on soccer games and other athletic events since 2021, according to ESPN. The other sports were NBA and NFL games, as considerably as college football. There was no betting on MLB games.

All My Fault

“Obviously, this is all my fault, everything I’ve done,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “I’m ready to human face all the consequences.”

I need people to cognize I did not know this was illegal. i learned my lesson the severely way. i testament never ut sports betting ever again,” Mizuhara told ESPN.

Mizuhara also said this week that he has a play addiction.

Mizuhara’s salary from the squad is between $300K and $500K a year.

It was also revealed that Bowyer’s bookmaking surgery is below federal investigation, ESPN reported.

Sports betting on course credit is illegal in California. But Mizuhara thought wagers made through and through Bowyer’s military operation were legal, ESPN reported. Mizuhara had made wagers before through and through another sound operation.

In response to the controversy, a Calif. attorney representing Bowyer, Diane Bass, issued a statement on Midweek to ESPN.

Mr. Bowyer ne'er met or spoke with Shohei Ohtani,” she said. She did non ply details.

During a look for of Bowyer’s abode endure October, federal agents confiscated cash, casino chips, a money-counting machine, computers, and other items, ESPN reported.

Mizuhara first off met Bowyer inward 2021 during a San Diego fire hook game. That year, Mizuhara began to pretend bets through and through his operation, according to ESPN.

Las Vegas Connection?

As feds enquire Bowyer, reportedly the same federal prosecutors, some of whom are believed to process inward Las Vegas, antecedently looked into illegal sports betting linked to Wayne Nix. Nix, a former pocket-size league baseball player, has pled hangdog to running an illegal sportsbook out of Costa Rica. He has in time to live sentenced.

In another twist to the Nix case, Sir Walter Scott Sibella, ex-president of Resorts World and MGM Grand, pled guilty inward January. Sibella admitted he knew that Nix operated an illegal bookmaking operation. Nix was permitted to hazard at MGM Grand and other properties with money from the illegal operation. MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan have to make up $7.45M inwards fines, according to ESPN.