Feb 6, 2025 - Sports

Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter sentenced for stealing from MLB star

Sareen Habeshian

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers prepares for a game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on February 27, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) — Shohei Ohtani, right, with Ippei Mizuhara, left, on Feb. 27, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter was sentenced to almost five years in federal prison Thursday for stealing nearly $17 million from the Japanese baseball star, the Department of Justice said.

The big picture: Ippei Mizuhara, who worked alongside Ohtani as a Japanese-language translator since the star's MLB debut in 2018, pleaded guilty in June to making unauthorized transfers from the player's bank account to pay off gambling debts.

Driving the news: In addition to the 57-month sentence, Mizuhara was ordered by a federal judge to pay Ohtani nearly $17 million in restitution and another $1.15 million to the IRS, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Central District of California said in a news release.

The 40-year-old was ordered to surrender to federal authorities by March 24.

Zoom out: Ohtani has denied knowing about the bank account transfers and has said he never engaged in any sports betting.

Go deeper: Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter charged with alleged $16 million theft

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Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter sentenced for stealing from MLB star

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