Source: Ohtani’s ex-interpreter faces fed charges
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Paula Lavigne
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Paula Lavigne
ESPN Staff Writer
- Data analyst and reporter for ESPN’s Enterprise and Investigative Unit.
- Winner, 2014 Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Award; finalist, 2012 IRE broadcast award; winner, 2011 Gannett Foundation Award for Innovation in Watchdog Journalism; Emmy nominated, 2009.
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T.J. Quinn
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T.J. Quinn
ESPN Senior Writer
- T.J. Quinn joined ESPN in November 2007 as an investigative reporter for ESPN’s Enterprise Unit, which is charged with developing long-form, investigative features to be presented across multiple platforms.
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is facing federal charges related to his alleged theft of millions from the slugger, a source with direct knowledge of the investigation confirmed to ESPN late Wednesday.
The New York Times was first to report Wednesday that Ippei Mizuhara, 39, is in negotiations to plead guilty and that the investigation is racing toward a conclusion.
The probe started just three weeks ago when news broke that at least $4.5 million was transmitted from Ohtani’s bank account to a California bookmaker under federal investigation.
In the first of a pair of interviews with ESPN, Mizuhara initially said he had amassed huge gambling debts and that Ohtani helped him out by wiring the money in $500,000 increments last year. But hours later, Mizuhara changed the account and said Ohtani had no knowledge of the payments.
Concurrently, attorneys for Ohtani alleged that he had been the victim of a “massive theft.”
At a subsequent news conference, Ohtani told the media he never bet on baseball or any other sports, and had no knowledge of Mizuhara’s alleged actions until a meeting after the Dodgers’ season opener in Seoul, South Korea, during which Mizuhara addressed the team and said he had a gambling addiction. “I’m very sad and shocked that someone who I’ve trusted has done this,” Ohtani said.
A source with direct knowledge of the investigation told ESPN late Wednesday that Ohtani’s claims were accurate.
California attorney Michael G. Freedman confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday that he represents Mizuhara but declined to comment.
ESPN previously reported that Mizuhara is under investigation by the IRS, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Those agencies are also investigating Mathew Bowyer, the bookmaker Mizuhara said he paid, and are involved in a sprawling money laundering and illegal gambling case in Las Vegas.
The Times reported Wednesday that prosecutors have uncovered evidence that Mizuhara may have stolen more money from Ohtani than the $4.5 million initially reported. Mizuhara changed the settings on Ohtani’s bank account so Ohtani would not receive alerts or confirmations about transactions, the Times also reported.
Mizuhara has not been seen publicly since returning to California from South Korea. The Times reported he was stopped by law enforcement officials after getting off the plane but was not arrested.
Information from ESPN’s Tisha Thompson was used in this report.
OTTAWA, Ontario — Max Pacioretty scored the tiebreaking goal with less than six minutes remaining, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a series-clinching 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night in Game 6 of their first-round matchup.
William Nylander had two goals, including an empty-netter in the final seconds, and an assist, and Auston Matthews added a power-play goal in the first period for Toronto. Anthony Stolarz made 20 saves.
Brady Tkachuk and David Perron scored for Ottawa. Thomas Chabot had two assists and Linus Ullmark made 19 saves.
The Maple Leafs advanced to take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in their first-round series.
Toronto grabbed a 3-0 series lead, but Ottawa stayed alive with a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 4 and a 4-0 shutout in Game 5.
The Maple Leafs finally put away the Senators in Game 6.
With the game tied at 2, Pacioretty — a heathy scratch to start the series — scored the winner with 5:39 remaining off a pass from Max Domi that beat Ullmark to the glove side. It was Pacioretty’s first goal of the playoffs.
Scott Laughton hit the post before Nylander iced it into the empty net with 18.3 seconds left.
Matthews put Toronto up 1-0 on a power play with 70 seconds left in the first period when he fired a low shot through traffic.
Nylander, on his 29th birthday, made it 2-0 just 43 seconds into the second when he ripped a shot past Ullmark after Pacioretty forced a turnover from Senators defenseman Nick Jensen.
Ottawa got on the board at 7:28 when Tkachuk tipped a shot past Stolarz.
Toronto, which beat Ottawa four times in five playoffs series in the early 2000s, came close to restoring its two-goal lead when John Tavares poked a loose puck off the post before Ullmark denied Matthew Knies and Brandon Carlo off the rush.
Perron scored with 7:20 left in regulation to tie it on a shot from below the goal line that went in off Stolarz’s back to make it 2-2.
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