A nearly four-minute audio recording has reportedly captured Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, impersonating the baseball star during a call with a bank, in an attempt to transfer $200,000 for what he claimed was a car loan, according to federal prosecutors.

The recording is part of a court filing and is being leveraged by prosecutors who argue for a nearly five-year sentence for Mizuhara, who has already pleaded guilty to charges of bank and tax fraud after allegedly stealing close to $17 million from Ohtani. Prosecutors are also pursuing restitution of the full amount as well as an additional penalty exceeding $1 million to the IRS. Mizuhara is scheduled to be sentenced on February 6

In the recorded conversation, a male voice identifies itself as Ohtani, informing the bank that he encountered issues logging into his online banking. The voice later confirms the amount for the transfer as $200,000. When questioned about the purpose of the transaction, he states it is for a car loan. Upon inquiry about the relationship with the payee, he responds vaguely, saying, "Um, he’s my friend." The recording was acquired by the bank’s Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Mitchell, although the exact time of the recording remains unspecified.

According to AP News, Mizuhara is alleged to have accessed Ohtani’s bank account since November 2021, manipulating security protocols to impersonate Ohtani and authorize substantial wire transfers. By 2024, it is alleged that the funds were misappropriated, including $325,000 spent on acquiring baseball cards from online marketplaces like eBay and Whatnot. Mizuhara, who was actively present during many of Ohtani's career milestones, engaged in these illicit acts to finance his gambling habits and cover debts accrued through illegal bookmakers, as well as personal medical expenses.

Despite the close friendship they shared, Mizuhara gambled away millions that legally weren’t his to stake, participating in bets on various sports, including international soccer and NFL, but notably never betting on baseball, according to prosecutors. For additional details, refer to CNN and CBS News.