Alleged impersonations, $16M stolen as ex-Ohtani interpreter charged

Explosive new particulars have emerged surrounding two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani and his former longtime interpreter’s playing controversy.

Federal authorities introduced in a Los Angeles courtroom on Thursday that Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s ex-interpreter, had been charged with financial institution fraud. ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reported that “it was found [Mizuhara] transferred greater than $16M” from the Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter’s account to an “alleged unlawful sports activities e-book.”

Per Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, financial institution fraud is a felony offense that may carry a “statutory most sentence of 30 years in federal jail.”