The former interpreter of Dodgers star Shohai Otani is set to issue bank and tax fraud rulings for nearly $17 million from the bank account of the four major league baseball MVP.
Ippei Mizuhara was scheduled to hand out a sentence in Orange County early Thursday afternoon in a spectacular scandal involving one of the world’s most famous athletes. Federal authorities are seeking a four-year, nine-month prison sentence. Prosecutors also hope that Mizuhara will pay Otani $17 million in compensation and $1 million to the Internal Revenue Service.
Suwon pleaded guilty to banking and tax fraud last year. He was accused of stealing large amounts of money to cover sports gambling bets and debts with illegal bookmakers.
Mizuhara served as an interpreter between Otani and his English-speaking teammates and fans, but authorities say they used the trust of a baseball star built over the years when they traveled to ballparks across the United States. I did. The Mizuhara case was revealed as part of a massive investigation into illegal sportsbook making organisations in Southern California, and as part of the laundry of revenues through a Las Vegas casino that has won dozens of defendants.
“The theft of his long-standing funds from Mr. Ohatani and countless lies said he told Mr. Ohatani’s agents and financial advisors to cover up his theft. Thesis.
In a letter to the court, Suwon explained his financial tension and his dependence on gambling. He also expressed regret.
“I am asking for a little mercy from the court for my decision you are telling me,” Mizuhara wrote. “I really admired the shoes he as a baseball player and as a human, and I have committed to dedicating my life so that I can make my life the best version on the field.
Tucupita Marcano and Ippei Mizuhara are the latest names to bring scandal to major league baseball. This is a look at other baseball-related controversies over the years.
Prosecutors support the “greedy appetite” of sports betting by spending money stolen from one of the world’s most popular and paid athletes with longtime friends to place incredible numbers of bets. He accused him of being accused of being accused of being. The allegations against the Orange County man were outlined in a lengthy criminal charge in favour of federal bank fraud charges.
The day after the federal accusations were announced in April, Mizuta apologized to Otani in a statement made through his lawyers, indicating that the deal was likely. Attorney Michael G. Friedman issued a statement saying that Mizuhara “hopes to reach an agreement with the government to resolve this case as quickly as possible.” He added that Mizuhara “want to apologize to Mr. Otani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball, and his family.”
According to criminal charges filed in the gambling scandal, Mizuhara placed around 19,000 bets between December 2021 and January 2024, with an average of nearly 25 bets per day. The wagering ranged between about $10 and $160,000 per unit, with an average wagering amount of about $12,800.
Mizuhara’s winning bet totaled over $142,256,000, losing around $182,935,000. The total loss was over $40,679,000, according to the affidavit.
Complaints written by the IRS Senior Special Agents cite wire transfers, text messages, phone records and interviews. In a text message to the bookmaker, Mizuhara admitted that he was stealing money from Otani’s account, prosecutors said. Suwon’s investigation was part of a larger probe that included illegal gambling operations.
Prosecutors said there was no evidence Ohtani approved the transfer from his account, characterising the baseball superstar as a victim of the incident. Otani reportedly supports the investigative authorities.
The record shows no bets on baseball. League Rule 21 says players and team employees are prohibited from placing bets with baseball or illegal or offshore bookmakers. It also mentions the punishments that could be left mostly in the league’s front offices.
The scandal was broken in mid-March after Mizuhara was fired on suspicion of theft from Otani’s bank account to cover illegal gambling losses. These gambling debts came against illegal Orange County bookmakers under investigation by the IRS.
Otani and his lawyers claim he is completely unaware of “massive theft” until news unfolds when the Dodgers opened the 2024 season against the Padres in South Korea last month .
Major League Baseball has launched its own investigation at the same time as the federal group by the IRS.
If you or someone you know has a gambling addiction, call the National Council on Issue Gambling 1-800-522-4700 and talk to the counselor. Help is also available from the online peer support forum at www.gamtalk.org, with additional resources available on the NCPG website.
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