According to federal prosecutors on Thursday, a nearly four-minute audio recording purportedly showed Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s former translator, posing as the baseball star on a call with a bank while he tried to transfer $200,000 for what he claims is a car loan.
Mizuhara, who earlier entered a guilty plea to bank and tax fraud for taking over $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player, is facing a roughly five-year term, which is supported by the recording that was cited in a court file and obtained by The Associated Press.
Along with a penalty of over $1 million to the IRS, prosecutors are also requesting restitution of the roughly $17 million to Ohtani.
Mizuhara entered a guilty plea to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a fake tax return; she is scheduled to be sentenced on February 6.
The Associated Press sent an email asking for comment, but Michael G. Freedman, his lawyer, did not reply.
A man who identifies himself as Ohtani can be heard in the tape stating that he attempted to access online banking but was unable. He subsequently affirms that $200,000 was the transaction amount.
He responds that the transaction is for a car loan when the bank employee asks him why.
“What is your relationship to the payee?” she inquires.
To which the man replies, “Um, he’s my friend,”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Mitchell said the bank provided the recording. When it was made is unknown.
“Will there be any future wires to your friend?” the bank representative asks near the end of the call.
“Possibly,” replies the man.
The Athletic was the first to get the recording.
According to the court document, Mizuhara gained access to Ohtani’s account starting in November 2021 and altered its security settings to allow him to pretend to be him and approve wire payments. According to reports, Mizuhara utilized the money to purchase almost $325,000 worth of baseball cards from online retailers eBay and Whatnot by 2024.
In June, Mizuhara entered a guilty plea to using millions of dollars from Ohtani’s Arizona bank account to pay for medical expenses, the $325,000 worth of baseball cards, and his expanding gambling wagers and debts with an illicit bookmaker.
Mizuhara witnessed many of the highlights of the Japanese sensation’s career, including his two American League MVP victories, his record-breaking $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers, and his role as Ohtani’s catcher during the Home Run Derby at the 2021 All-Star Game. He became Ohtani’s confidant and friend off the field.
In order to continue talking to Ohtani, Mizuhara famously left the Los Angeles Angels during the 2021 MLB lockout. He was later rehired after a settlement was reached and their wives apparently got along.
Prosecutors claim he never bet on baseball, but he gambled it all away, wagering tens of millions of dollars that weren’t his on college football, the NFL, the NBA, and international soccer.