Los Angeles (CNN) � Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, will face a federal charge of bank fraud after allegedly stealing more than $16 million from Ohtani, the US attorney in Los Angeles announced Thursday.
US Attorney Martin Estrada said Mizuhara made unauthorized transfers from Ohtani’s bank account from November 2021 until January 2024. According to a news release from the US attorney’s office, Mizuhara used his close relationship with Ohtani � someone whom he accompanied on a constant basis due to the Japanese star’s limited understanding of English � to fuel his gambling addiction.
Estrada said Ohtani is “considered a victim in this case,� and there’s no evidence suggesting Ohtani was actively involved.
“Our investigation has revealed that due to the position of trust he occupied with Mr. Ohtani, Mr. Mizuhara had unique access to Mr. Ohtani’s finances,� Estrada said. “Mr. Mizuhara used and abused that position of trust in order to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani.�
If convicted, Mizuhara could face up to 30 years in prison, Estrada said.
Mizuhara was fired last month after Ohtani’s lawyers  of stealing from Ohtani and placing bets with a bookmaker who is under federal investigation. Ohtani later alleged Mizuhara stole the money from one of his bank accounts.
The size of the alleged theft is much larger than had been previously known. Mizuhara had originally been accused of stealing about $4.5 million, but on Wednesday that prosecutors expected that number to be higher.
The allegations became public while the Dodgers were in South Korea for an MLB season-opening series in March.  and the  reported Ohtani’s lawyers accused Mizuhara of “massive theft� of millions of dollars and placing bets with a bookie under federal investigation.
²Ñ¾±³ú³Ü³ó²¹°ù²¹Ìý while the team was in Seoul. Estrada said Mizuhara is not suspected of gambling on baseball.
“We do not believe any bets were made on baseball games,� he said.
Ohtani, who during the offseason signed baseball’s richest contract with the Dodgers, has adamantly betting on any sport or paying a bookie.
The news release from the US attorney’s office said Ohtani was interviewed by federal investigators last week and denied authorizing the wire transfers.
“Ohtani provided his cellphone to law enforcement, who determined that there was no evidence to suggest that Ohtani was aware of, or involved in, Mizuhara’s illegal gambling activity or payment of those debts,� the release stated.
Estrada said on Thursday that there is evidence that Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani in phone calls to a bank in order to authorize wire transfers to associates of the illegal gambling operation with which he had been involved.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
CNN’s Joe Sutton contributed to this report.
The-CNN-Wire
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