The former Shohei Ohtani interpreter, IPPEI Mizuhara, sent a letter to Judge John W. Holcomb, asking for clemency in his sentence and describing the reasons for his game problems.
Mizuhara committed bank fraud and fiscal fraud, since he stole almost $ 17 million from Ohtani’s money to pay for game debts.
Federal prosecutors requested a 57 -month prison sentence, while asking Mizuhara to pay $ 16.9 million restitution to Ohtani, and another $ 1.1 million to the IRS.
CLICK HERE for more sports coverage at Foxnews.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers designated the batter Shohei Ohtani (17) with the Ipepi Mizuhara translator against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training baseball game in Camelback Ranch-Glendale. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA Today Sports)
Mizuhara requested an 18 -month sentence in prison, while revealing the factors in his life that led him to play, in his letter obtained by Atlético.
Mizuhara said he has sacrificed his life and the life of his family since he became the interpreter/Ohtani manager at the end of 2017.
“Usually, when a Japanese baseball player moves to the United States, he would bring several staff members to take care of several tasks, such as a driver, coach, chef, supporting/support interpreter outside the field, etc. However.
“So, naturally, I had to support him with most of the tasks mentioned above. 24 /7.
Shohei Ohtani’s former player passed through the Dodgers star to push through the 6 -digit wire transfer, he reveals audio
IPPEI Mizuhara, the Los Angeles Dodgers translator appointed the batter Shhehei Ohtani, during an introductory press conference at the Dodger Stadium. (Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports)
Mizuhara said that the busy baseball calendar, combined with the international time difference that deals with the Ohtani management team in Japan, would keep him awake late at night on the phone, which would make him lose his dream.
Mizuhara said the low season was more difficult than the baseball season, due to the demanding Ohtani schedule.
“The low season was much more difficult both physically and mentally. Shohei would train 5 to 6 times per week, and I was responsible for reserving the facilities, configuring and cleaning all the practice equipment, filming and tracking all their exercises, being its Training partner (as he was only he and me throughout the training of the low season), carrying it from one place to another, and communicating all this to angels and their personal launch/batting/rehabilitation people in the United States. “
“He would also be doing daily mandates such as purchases of groceries, reviewing his mailbox, fixing his bicycle, accompanying him when he returned to Iwate’s prefecture to visit his family, taking his dog to the veterinarian and the hairdressers, leaving him and picking up and picking up dinners with dinners with dinner Companions while waiting in the car, helping to coordinate Japanese and American lawyers for their accumulation of marriage and attend meetings, etc. “
In addition to those tasks, Mizuhara said he was responsible for communicating with the approval and brokerage companies to establish the Ohtani commercial sessions. Those outbreaks were once a week between the training of the low season, leaving Mizuhara with little free time.
Former IPPEI Mizuhara interpreter from Shohei Ohtani, Ipei Mizuhara
The Los Angeles Dodgers player, Shohei Ohtani (right) and Ipei Mizuhara interpreter, attend the game between Los Angeles Rams and the Saints of New Orleans at the Sofi stadium. (Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports)
With all the work he was doing for Ohtani, Mizuhara said he felt very badly paid. Mizuhara said the Angels paid $ 85,000 in 2018, $ 87,000 from 2019 to 2021, $ 99,611.16 in 2022 and $ 250,000 in 2023; But Ohtani paid approximately $ 11,000 per year.
“I felt that I was paying very badly, but I was afraid to talk for myself, since I was in a one -year contract every year, and I didn’t want to bother them and take a risk to say goodbye to me,” said Mizuhara.
The Japanese Roki Sasaki phenomenon says he wants to try an American hamburger ‘after signing with the Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers player, Shohei Ohtani (left) and interpreter Ipei Mizuhara (right) perch with the Los Angeles Rams Pet Risk (Center) at the Sofi stadium. (Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports)
Another challenge of working for Ohtani was that Mizuhara had to live near Ohtani, which meant that he had to pay a higher income to have a place near him.
“All these additional expenses were affecting me greatly, and I lived the payment check. There were months that I had to borrow money from family and friends to get to the end of the month.”
Mizuhara said he had the opportunity to help himself financially, “such as writing books, doing television/radio interviews and appearing in television commercials, which would have helped me financially, but all were closed by Shohei and his company in Japan.”
Among the salary, the high demands of his work and not being able to earn money for himself, Mizuhara said he thought that the game could be an opportunity to help financially.
The Los Angeles Dodgers appointed the batter Shohei Ohtani with the translator IPPEI Mizuhara in the refuge against the San Francisco giants during a spring training baseball game in Camelback Ranch-Glendale. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA Today Sports)
“Before I realize, my game debt had grown so much that I could not find any way to pay it, but using Shhehei’s money,” Mizuhara said. “I felt terribly guilty for putting my hands in his money, but at that time, it seemed the only solution.”
Mizuhara can only expect Judge Holcomb to find some sympathy for him in his sentence, with his side of the story now out there.
