FOX SPORT NEWS: Ex-Ohtani interpreter begins federal prison sentence in Pennsylvania. His Wife Fainted After Judge Aired Out His Prison Sentence.

Ex-Ohtani interpreter begins federal prison sentence in Pennsylvania

The former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani has started his federal prison sentence in Pennsylvania. Ippei Mizuhara is currently at Federal Correctional Institution Allenwood Low, ESPN reports.

Mizuhara was sentenced to 57 months in prison after stealing nearly $17 million from Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to pay off gambling debts.

According to ESPN, Mizuhara’s attorney previously told ESPN that he expects the former interpreter for Ohtani to eventually be deported.

Ippei Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers last March after an ESPN investigation found that he sent millions in wire transfers from Ohtani’s account to an illegal bookmaker. Last June, he pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return.

Mizuhara also admitted to placing approximately 19,000 bets to a bookie over a two-year period and accumulating over $40 million of debt, according to ESPN.

Ohtani and Mizuhara were reportedly close friends, in addition to having a working relationship. However, Mizuhara ended up betting tens of millions of dollars of Ohtani’s money on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college football.

There was no evidence that Ohtani was involved in or aware of Mizuhara’s gambling.

As for on the field, Shohei Ohtani, who has established himself as one of the best players in baseball, returned to the mound on Monday for the first time since August of 2023.

Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers in December of 2023, did not pitch for nearly two years after undergoing surgery to repair his right ulnar collateral ligament.

Ohtani's ex-interpreter Mizuhara begins prison sentence - The Japan Times

He allowed two hits and one run in one inning of work against the Padres while throwing 28 pitches.

While Ohtani had been unable to pitch due to an injury, he has continued to be one of the best hitters in baseball. He entered Monday’s game with a .297 batting average, 25 home runs and 41 RBIs.

Ohtani has already won three MVP awards in his career, and he helped the Dodgers win the 2024 World Series.

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