Former Shohei Ohtani Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara Begins Sentence in Federal Jail

Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani, surrendered to a federal facility in Pennsylvania on Monday, beginning a nearly five-year incarceration for bank and tax fraud amounting to approximately $17 million. Mizuhara, 40, was processed at the low-security prison in Allenwood, located roughly 125 miles northwest of Philadelphia, per his attorney, Michael Freedman. In February, a federal court in Santa Ana sentenced him to four years and nine months, alongside a restitution of $18 million, with significant portions allocated to the IRS and Ohtani. His sentencing included three years of supervised release. Authorities revealed Mizuhara accessed Ohtani’s account in 2021, manipulating its security settings to mask his identity and sanction wire transfers. The funds were misappropriated to settle growing debts, fund around 19,000 illegal bets, purchase $325,000 in baseball cards, and cover personal expenses. Initially set to report to prison in March, Mizuhara’s arrival was deferred for unclear reasons, and deportation is anticipated for the Japanese national.