Despite Mizuhara's claims of addiction, prosecutors argued that his actions were primarily driven by greed, as he used stolen funds for personal expenses unrelated to gambling.

Mizuhara was closely associated with Ohtani during significant career moments, including the 2021 All-Star Game and his two American League MVP wins.

Mizuhara is scheduled to be sentenced on February 6, 2025, as the scandal continues to unfold.

Mizuhara described the pressures of his role supporting Ohtani, stating he felt overwhelmed and financially strained, often living paycheck to paycheck.

Naomi, Mizuhara's wife, expressed her emotional distress due to their struggles and her inability to support him during difficult times.

Mizuhara accessed Ohtani's bank account starting in November 2021, altering security protocols to impersonate him for unauthorized wire transfers.

Mizuhara's gambling addiction led him to make approximately 19,000 sports bets from December 2021 to January 2024, accumulating over $40 million in debt.

Over the years, Mizuhara reportedly stole millions from Ohtani during his tenure with both the Angels and Dodgers.

Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, is facing sentencing for bank and tax fraud charges after stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani.

The fraud case came to light in March 2024 during the Dodgers' opening MLB season in South Korea, revealing Ohtani as the victim of Mizuhara's actions.

In one instance, Mizuhara identified himself as 'Shohei Ohtani' when asked by a bank operator during a transaction.

He attempted to wire $200,000 to a friend for a car loan, successfully answering the bank's verification questions.