Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was a victim in the gambling scheme of his now-former translator, Ippei Mizuhara.
That’s what the investigation into the scheme has reportedly revealed.
TMZ Sports reported on Wednesday night that “the feds have concluded not only was the Dodger star NOT involved in the scheme, he was a victim of fraud … law enforcement sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Sports.”
“The feds have been investigating Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s longtime translator, close friend, and functionally his manager,” the report detailed. “Mizuhara gambled away millions, reportedly at least $4.5 million, and after the story broke he said Ohtani had covered the debt.
“Our sources say the feds, who launched an investigation last month, have concluded Mizuhara was lying — that Ohtani was completely in the dark over the gambling debt, and Mizuhara embezzled from one of Ohtani’s accounts without the pitcher’s knowledge.”
News of the scandal broke when Ohtani and the Dodgers were in South Korea, playing the first two games of the MLB season against the San Diego Padres in the Seoul Series. Mizuhara was fired shortly thereafter.
Ohtani, in his first year with the Dodgers, quickly declared his innocence and continued to play through the investigation, starting at DH in all 15 of Los Angeles’ games through Thursday.
[TMZ.com]