Shohei Ohtani¡¯s former interpreter initially told an ESPN reporter that ?the Los Angeles Dodgers star had agreed to pay off his huge gambling debts, according to a newly released audio recording.
Less than 24 hours later, Ippei Mizuhara admitted to the ?same reporter, Tisha Thompson, that he had lied.
Mizuhara currently ?is serving ?a 57-month prison sentence after admitting ?to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani and pleading guilty to federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion.
The recording ?of Thompson¡¯s interview with Mizuhara is featured in ¡°The Betrayal of Shohei ?Ohtani,¡± a six-episode series from 30 for 30 Podcasts.
Mizuhara told Thompson he started betting with ?an illegal bookmaker ?after meeting him at a poker game. Mizuhara said he approached Ohtani for help ?after his debts mounted.
¡°I ?asked him if he could pay ?my debt off. He had to give ?it some ?thought,¡± Mizuhara said in the first interview with Thompson in March 2024.
Mizuhara said Ohtani was concerned about giving him the money because he didn¡¯t trust him ?not to gamble with it.
¡°He wanted to make sure it¡¯s going back to the debts,¡± Mizuhara said.
When the Dodgers fired Mizuhara the day after that interview and ?Ohtani¡¯s attorneys ?accused him of a ¡°massive theft,¡± he recanted ?much of what he had told Thompson during a second ?interview.
Last month, Mizuhara, 41, reported to a low-security Pennsylvania prison Monday to begin serving his sentence.
His sentence included an order to provide financial restitution to ?Ohtani. He also must pay $1.15 million to the IRS.
Mizuhara worked as Ohtani¡¯s interpreter with the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers, with the pair characterized as close friends before Ohtani severed ties following the theft revelations.
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