An Orange County man, Ippei Mizuhara, has copped to a multi-million-dollar swindle involving a Major League Baseball star's fortune, according to federal prosecutors. The 39-year-old interpreter from Newport Beach is set to plead guilty to charges of bank fraud and filing a false tax return, with the potential to be benched for decades in federal prison. The high stakes game Mizuhara played ended with nearly $17 million illegally transferred from the athlete's account to pay off his own gambling debts, the Justice Department announced.
Mizuhara, who is expected to formally admit his guilt in court within the coming weeks, pulled off the embezzlement without the player's knowledge or consent. The ear-marked funds were drained from the account of MLB star Shohei Ohtani, for whom Mizuhara had worked as a translator and effectively as a manager. Through a complex web of deceit, Mizuhara changed account security protocols and impersonated Ohtani to make unauthorized wire transfers and cover his losing bets with an illegal bookie. "The extent of this defendant's deception and theft is massive," U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement.
The elaborate con began unraveling when Ohtani's financial advisors smelled a rat, yet Mizuhara doubled down on his lies, stating Ohtani preferred keeping his financial affairs under wraps. But the truth was, he didn't want the light to shine on the hefty sum of more than $16,975,010 pilfered from the baseball star's fortune. In a sordid twist, documents show Mizuhara even funded his $60,000 dental work with the player's money, compounding insult to injury.
Mizuhara's batting average with the IRS wasn't any better, having swung a false tax return for 2022, declaring a taxable income far below his actual earnings. He acknowledged in his plea that he owes the IRS approximately $1,149,400 in back taxes, penalties, and interest for that year. Special Agent Tyler Hatcher from IRS Criminal Investigation noted, "Mr. Mizuhara exploited his relationship with Mr. Ohtani to bankroll his own irresponsibility."
HSI Los Angeles Special Agent Eddy Wang points out the threat financial crimes pose in the Los Angeles-area. "The HSI-led El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force is dedicated to protecting all victims of financial fraud from all walks of life," says Wang. The investigation into Mizuhara's actions and resulting plea serve as a stark example of the perils such crimes carry.
