ESPN has released a 90-minute [1] phone interview with former Los Angeles Dodgers interpreter Ippei Mizuhara recorded just before his illegal gambling activities were discovered.
The audio provides a rare look at the deception used by Mizuhara to conceal a massive financial fraud against one of the world's most famous athletes. It highlights the gap between the public narrative Mizuhara attempted to create and the legal reality of his crimes.
In the recording, Mizuhara said to the interviewer that Shohei Ohtani had agreed to cover his gambling losses. He said, "Ohtani-senshu said 'I will pay this time' and paid for me" [2]. Mizuhara later said these statements were a "lie" [2].
Court records and investigations revealed a different story. Mizuhara did not receive gifts from Ohtani; instead, he illegally transferred funds from the pitcher's accounts to pay off debts to illegal sports betting operators [1]. The total amount of unauthorized transfers reached approximately $17 million [1], or about 2.78 billion yen [1].
These transfers occurred over a period spanning from November 2021 to March 2024 [1]. The scheme eventually collapsed, leading to Mizuhara's arrest and subsequent legal proceedings.
In February 2023 [1], Mizuhara was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison [1]. While some reports identify Mizuhara as the central figure in the fund transfers, other sources indicate he worked as a collaborator for a bookmaker named Matthew Bowyer [3].
The interview was released by ESPN as part of a documentary project, shedding light on the events immediately preceding the public exposure of the scandal [1].
“"Ohtani-senshu said 'I will pay this time' and paid for me"”
The release of this audio underscores the level of manipulation involved in the fraud. By attempting to frame the payments as altruistic acts by Ohtani, Mizuhara sought to protect his position and hide the theft of millions of dollars. The contrast between his recorded claims and his eventual prison sentence serves as a documented record of the betrayal of trust between a high-profile athlete and his closest confidant.
