Key Highlights:

• Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for MLB star Shohei Ohtani, sentenced to 4 years and 9 months.
• Charged with stealing nearly $17 million to cover gambling debts and personal expenses.
• Ordered to pay $18 million in restitution to Ohtani and the IRS.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, was sentenced Thursday to four years and nine months in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player's bank account. The federal court in Santa Ana ordered Mizuhara to pay $18 million in restitution, with almost $17 million designated for Ohtani and the remainder to settle taxes owed to the IRS. Mizuhara, who was supposed to assist Ohtani in communicating with English-speaking teammates and fans, had previously pleaded guilty to the charges last year.

The judge, John W. Holcomb, commented on the shocking magnitude of the theft, stating, "The magnitude of the theft — $17 million — in my view, is shockingly high." Officials reported that Mizuhara misappropriated the funds beginning in 2021 by impersonating Ohtani during bank communications to authorize fraudulent wire transfers. Over the years, Mizuhara reportedly funneled the stolen money into covering mounting gambling debts with illegal bookmakers, and also used it for personal expenses including purchasing $325,000 worth of baseball cards.

In the wake of the scandal, Mizuhara's actions have raised questions about the trust placed within employee relationships in professional sports. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally mentioned that Mizuhara exploited Ohtani's vulnerability as a non-English speaker, underlining Ohtani's status as a victim in the case.

Mizuhara was born in Japan and relocated to the U.S. at age six, establishing a close bond with Ohtani after serving as his interpreter since the athlete’s arrival in Major League Baseball in 2018. This alliance deepened throughout a series of historic milestones for Ohtani, including his record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mizuhara's convictions reflect a broader investigation into illegal sports betting operations in Southern California, highlighting issues of fraud and misconduct within the arena of highly-publicized sports figures.

For more detailed coverage, please refer to HuffPost, ABC News, and Los Angeles Times.