Sports
Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter impersonated Dodgers star to push through 6-figure wire transfer, audio reveals
A four-minute audio recording was disclosed by federal prosecutors Thursday that shows Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, allegedly attempting to push through a six-figure wire transfer from one of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star’s accounts by impersonating him.
Mizuhara has been convicted of defrauding Ohtani, the National League MVP and world baseball superstar, and the recording, obtained by The Athletic from the Department of Justice, is a key piece of evidence.
It was mentioned in a court filing, which also had prosecutors recommending a nearly five-year sentence for Mizuhara and an order to repay Ohtani, according to The Athletic.
Ippei Mizuhara pleaded guilty June 4, 2024, to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case and admitted stealing nearly $17 million from Shohei Ohtani. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer, File)
Mizuhara, who is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 6, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return after stealing almost $17 million from Ohtani, who he was best friends with for years, in June 2024.
The recording was obtained from a bank, assistant U.S. attorney Jeff Mitchell told The Athletic, and it supports prosecutors’ claims that Mizuhara would call banks to arrange wire transfers.
Prosecutors added that the recording was edited to redact bank names and the name of an “unindicated co-conspirator.”
FORMER SHOHEI OHTANI INTERPRETER PLEADS GUILTY TO CHARGES IN SPORTS BETTING CASE
In the recording, Mizuhara clearly states his name is Ohtani after the bank agent asks, “Who am I speaking with?” Mizuhara bypassed the bank’s security measures and changed Ohtani’s account information to include his own email and phone number.
So, when the bank agent asks Mizuhara to perform a two-factor authentication using a six-digit code sent to a phone number, he can do so because it’s going to his phone instead of Ohtani’s.
The recording shows Mizuhara matching the numbers, which allows the agent to work on his request, a car loan for $200,000.
“Now recently, we’ve come across a trend of fraud and scams, so we have been monitoring the online transactions closely to make sure our clients are not the victim of either,” the agent says first. “What is the reason for this transaction?”
Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara of the Los Angeles Dodgers during a press conference at Dodger Stadium Dec. 14, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Then, the agent asks “Ohtani” what his relationship to the payee is, to which Mizuhara says, “He’s my friend.”
“Have you met your friend in person”” the agent responds.
“Yes, many times,” Mizuhara answered.
Mizuhara said he stole from Ohtani to cover “major gambling debt,” which he said in a brief statement after pleading guilty.
“I went ahead and wired money … with his bank account,” Mizuhara said in the statement at the time.
Prosecutors asked that the restitution amount bet set at nearly $17 million for Ohtani, though it was noted Mizuhara is unable to pay that back to the All-Star. Another $1.1 million in restitution is being sought by the IRS.
Japanese interpreter Ippei Mizuhara attends a press conference at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles Dec. 14, 2023. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
The ex-interpreter’s winning bets totaled over $142 million, which he deposited into his own bank account and not Ohtani’s. His losing bets were around $183 million. He did not bet on baseball.
There is also no indication Ohtani bet on baseball.
The Athletic reported the court filing says that, between December 2021 and January 2024, Mizuhara placed around 19,000 bets online through Matthew Bowyer, his bookie who also pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business in August 2024.
Mizuhara’s debt was up to $40.7 million.
“His years-long theft of funds from Mr. Ohtani and the myriad lies he told to Mr. Ohtani’s agents and financial advisors to cover up his theft represent a calculated betrayal of the very person he was hired to help,” Mitchell wrote in the court filing.
Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, arrives at federal court in Los Angeles June 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
“To summarize how I’m feeling right now, I’m just beyond shocked,” Ohtani said in a statement on the matter last year. “It’s really hard to verbalize how I’m feeling at this point.
“I’m very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this.”
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Jordon Hudson was spotted on the sideline of the North Carolina Tar Heels’ 20-15 win over the Stanford Cardinal with a message around her neck.
Hudson’s glistening necklace read, “Banned.”
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick’s girlfriend Jordon Hudson on the sidelines before an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Controversy swirled around Hudson and head coach Bill Belichick since the two arrived at the program. The spotlight increased after a disastrous interview with CBS to promote the legendary coach’s book. A report surfaced in May about Hudson allegedly being barred from the program.
However, North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham denied that Hudson was prohibited from the stadium and the facility. It became more evident when Hudson greeted her boyfriend during the Tar Heels’ first game of the season in Chapel Hill.
INDIANA’S OMAR COOPER JR SENDS COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS INTO FRENZY WITH INCREDIBLE TD CATCH VS PENN STATE
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick’s girlfriend Jordon Hudson, center, with white boots, stands on the sidelines before an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Hudson appears to have the upper hand now against the detractors as North Carolina’s season has not spiraled out of control. Instead, North Carolina moved to 4-5 on the season following the win over Stanford.
The Tar Heels also had a big win against the Syracuse Orange and were nearly victories against the California Golden Bears and Virginia Cavaliers.
North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez was 18-of-25 with 203 passing yards and two touchdown passes. He had a 55-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Shipp, who led the Tar Heels with five catches for 83 yards.
“Good win,” Belichick said. “Good to win at home. Always good to win at home. Proud of our team.”
Jordon Hudson attends the game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Lance King/Getty Images)
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North Carolina has three games left on its schedule with Wake Forest, Duke and North Carolina State left to play.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Laguna Beach’s football season came to an end on Friday night after the Breakers lost to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 44-28 in a Division 3 playoff opener. But if you saw the performances of three freshmen starters, you’d know how promising the future looks for Laguna Beach.
Luke Bogdan, 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, and Winston Darrow, 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, are 14 years old. Both start on the offensive line. Bogdan also played on the defensive line. Then there’s Charlie Christian, a running back and linebacker who is 15 and never wants to go down without a fight.
To have players so young holding their own on an offensive line in Division 3 was remarkable. Quarterback Jack Hurst was sacked once. Then there’s Christian, who caught five passes for 85 yards while also taking on Notre Dame’s huge offensive line on defense at his linebacker position.
When college recruiters see these freshmen on film and imagine how big and strong they might become in the coming years, they’ll be impressed.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Sports
No 2 Indiana caps off comeback win over Penn State with sensational touchdown, keeps undefeated season alive
Will Indiana and Oregon win Big Ten matchups?
Joel Klatt previewed the Indiana Hoosiers and the Penn State Nittany Lions. He explained how the Hoosiers are battling injuries with WR Elijah Surrat and LB Aiden Fisher and questioned if that will effect their chances at a playoff run. Joel broke…
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Penn State was on the verge of a massive upset of No. 2 Indiana, but Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. had other ideas.
Indiana survived Penn State, winning 27-24 on Saturday afternoon at Beaver Stadium thanks to an incredible 10-play, 73-yard drive that Mendoza authored.
The Nittany Lions were up 24-20 with 1:51 left in the fourth quarter, and Indiana had no timeouts. On the first play of the drive, Mendoza was sacked by defender Zane Durant for a loss of seven yards.
Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. catches a touchdown pass over Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley during the fourth quarter, Saturday, in State College, Pa. (Barry Reeger/AP Photo)
The Indiana quarterback rallied his team back to the line of scrimmage and completed a 22-yard pass to Cooper to negate the sack and get a first down. Mendoza spiked the ball to stop the clock.
On the ensuing play after the spike, Mendoza connected with E.J. Williams Jr. for 12 yards and another first down. Two plays later, Mendoza hit Riley Nowakowski for a 29-yard gain to move into Penn State territory.
Mendoza then connected with Charlie Becker for another 17 yards to move to the Penn State 7-yard line. With 45 seconds left, Indiana gave themselves a chance to win the game.
COLLEGE QUARTERBACK APOLOGIZES AFTER FLAUNTING NIL MONEY TO CRITIC IN VIRAL VIDEO
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks to pass against Penn State, Saturday, in State College, Pa. (Barry Reeger/AP Photo)
It looked like Mendoza completed the comeback on second down. The Hoosiers quarterback connected with Becker on a slant in the end zone for a touchdown, but the referees blew the play dead because Penn State got a timeout at the last second. The Nittany Lions forced an incomplete pass on second down to force third down after the timeout.
On third and goal, with the Hoosiers’ undefeated record on the line, Mendoza and Cooper saved the day.
Mendoza, who was about to be clobbered by oncoming rushers, stepped into a throw and delivered a high pass to Cooper. The wide receiver skied for the catch and, in acrobatic fashion, just got his toe down in the end zone to complete not only an incredible touchdown, but the comeback as well.
Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., center, celebrates his touchdown catch with teammates, Saturday, in State College, Pa. (Barry Reeger/AP Photo)
Penn State got the ball back with 35 seconds and one timeout, down 27-24, but couldn’t get into field goal range, and their Hail Mary attempt fell short.
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Mendoza threw for 218 yards and had one touchdown with one interception in the win. Cooper had six catches for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Indiana improved to 10-0 with the win and will look to keep it rolling against Wisconsin (2-6) next week. Penn State dropped to 3-6 with the loss and will look to rally against Michigan State (3-6) next week.
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