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Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter pleaded guilty Tuesday to bank and tax fraud charges in a packed Santa Ana, California, federal courtroom, admitting he stole nearly $17 million from the MLB superstar to help pay off massive gambling debts.

Ohtani's Ex-Interpreter Steals $17M From MLB Star : The Admission and Charges

Ippei Mizuhara, 39, admitted during Tuesday's hearing that he stole the money from Ohtani, a star player with the Los Angeles Dodgers, because he had access to Ohtani's bank account and needed money to pay off his gambling debts to an illegal bookmaker. Mizuhara faces up to 33 years in prison, according to his plea deal with federal prosecutors.

The courtroom of U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb was filled with members of the media and onlookers. Mizuhara, dressed in a dark suit, showed little emotion and gave straightforward answers as the judge asked routine questions about his understanding of the case and the rights he was waiving by pleading guilty.

Near the end of the hearing, Judge Holcomb asked Mizuhara to describe his actions in his own words. Without showing strong emotion, Mizuhara referred to Ohtani as "Victim A," which is how he is referenced in the government's charging documents.

"So I worked for Victim A, and I had access to his bank account," Mizuhara said. "I had fallen into major gambling debts, and the only way I could think of was to use his money."

Mizuhara also admitted to wiring money for his gambling debts from Ohtani's bank account and failing to report the money on his taxes.

Ohtani's Ex-Interpreter Steals $17M From MLB Star : The Fall from Grace

Mizuhara's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25. His attorney, Michael Freedman of the Freedman Firm, declined to comment after the proceedings.

The plea marks a swift downfall for Mizuhara, who spent the opening day of the Los Angeles Dodgers season in March in the dugout next to Ohtani. Media reports of payments to an illegal bookmaker from Ohtani's bank account led to Mizuhara's firing and allegations from Ohtani's representatives that the baseball star was a victim of massive theft.

Federal authorities have said Ohtani is a victim in the case and had no knowledge of Mizuhara's gambling problem or the millions taken from his bank account.

Mizuhara was arrested in April and made his first appearance in a packed federal courtroom the next day. At that hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria A. Audero allowed him to be released on $25,000 bail.

The Fraud Scheme

According to plea agreement documents, Mizuhara surreptitiously accessed a bank account he had helped Ohtani set up and used the baseball star's funds to pay off Mizuhara's own debts to a bookie in California, where sports betting is illegal. Mizuhara knew the password for the account because he went to the Arizona bank with Ohtani when the account was set up in 2018 and interpreted for him.

Mizuhara changed the contact information on Ohtani's account to his own and impersonated Ohtani in his contacts with the bank, giving him full control of the pitcher-designated hitter's assets. The scheme continued for nearly three years, with Mizuhara eventually stealing almost $17 million from Ohtani. Although most of the money went toward gambling debts, Mizuhara also took money for dental work and baseball cards.

Jeff P. Mitchell of the U.S. Attorneys' Office for the Central District of California read the details of the allegations against Mizuhara out loud during Tuesday's hearing.

Federal officials announced the criminal case against Mizuhara at a press conference the day before his first court appearance, following weeks of speculation after media reports around the time of the Dodgers' season opening game in March tied Ohtani's bank account to payments to an illegal bookmaking operation in California.

Ohtani's Ex-Interpreter Steals $17M From MLB Star : The Impact on Ohtani

Mizuhara's shifting accounts about his connection to illegal betting rocked the sports world just as the Dodgers opened their season. He first claimed Ohtani agreed to pay his multimillion-dollar debt, but Ohtani's attorneys later said the MLB star was unaware of Mizuhara's gambling debts and was the victim of a massive theft.

Scrutiny of Ohtani and his baseball career had already reached new heights before the betting scandal broke due to a blockbuster $700 million contract he signed with the Dodgers in the offseason.

The government is represented by Daniel G. Boyle, Jeff P. Mitchell, and Rachel Nechama Agress of the U.S. Attorneys' Office for the Central District of California. Mizuhara is represented by Michael Freedman of the Freedman Firm.