What’s the penalty for stealing millions of dollars from one of the most famous athletes on the planet?
Ippei Mizuhara can wait to find out.
According to Evan Drellich of The Athletic, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has had his sentencing postponed. Previously scheduled for Oct. 25, Mizuhara will not be sentenced Dec. 20.
Ippei Mizuhara’s sentencing has been moved back to Dec. 20, at his request. It was previously set for Oct. 25.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) September 23, 2024
The Dodgers fired Mizuhara in March, while the team was playing its season-opening series in South Korea, when it was revealed that Mizuhara had been illicitly accessing a bank account belonging to Ohtani for years, largely to pay down his gambling debt.
Mizuhara was charged with stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani, most of which was transferred directly from Ohtani’s bank account to an account registered to an illegal bookmaker.
Read more: Bookie Who Took Wagers From Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter Agrees to Plea Deal
Mizuhara, 39, pleaded guilty in June to one count of bank fraud and one count of filing a false income tax return. He could face up to 30 years in prison.
The bookie, Mathew Bowyer, accepted a plea agreement at a federal courthouse in Santa Ana, California, and faces between 30 and 37 months in prison, his attorney told reporters in August.
More news: MLB Clears Shohei Ohtani in Investigation, Dodgers Release Statement
A federal investigation revealed that Mizuhara began placing sports bets with Bowyer in Sept. 2021, and then transferred money from Ohtani’s personal account to cover the debts.
In a rare and extensive public press conference, Ohtani claimed he was the victim of theft, disavowing any knowledge of or involvement in Mizuhara’s gambling.
In April, the Department of Justice held a press conference of its own and released a 37-page complaint against Mizuhara that detailed the breadth of Mizuhara’s gambling activities — most of which occurred during Ohtani’s time with the Los Angeles Angels.
Ippei Mizuhara departs federal court after his arraignment in Los Angeles, California, on May 14, 2024. Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Mizuhara, has agreed to plead guilty over charges of illegally transferring nearly $17 million from the baseball star’s bank account in order to pay off gambling debts. Mizuhara has a new court date for sentencing.
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
Last December, Ohtani signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers.
On the field, the contract could not be playing out any better for both parties. Ohtani recently became the first player in baseball history to reach the 50-50 mark — 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.
More news: Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Joins 50/50 Club With Three Home Runs, Two Stolen Bases
Ohtani was named the National League Player of the Week on Monday. For the season, he has 53 home runs and 55 stolen bases to go with a .301 batting average, 123 RBIs, and 128 runs scored.
For more Shohei Ohtani coverage, visit Newsweek Sports.
