cURL Error #:HTTP/2 stream 1 was not closed cleanly: PROTOCOL_ERROR (err 1){"id":62800,"date":"2024-04-11T08:32:45","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T13:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.longisland-ny.com\/2024\/04\/11\/dodgers-star-shohei-ohtani-gets-a-big-break-in-fraud-case-involving-interpreter\/"},"modified":"2024-04-11T08:32:45","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T13:32:45","slug":"dodgers-star-shohei-ohtani-gets-a-big-break-in-fraud-case-involving-interpreter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.longisland-ny.com\/2024\/04\/11\/dodgers-star-shohei-ohtani-gets-a-big-break-in-fraud-case-involving-interpreter\/","title":{"rendered":"Dodgers Star Shohei Ohtani Gets a Big Break in Fraud Case Involving Interpreter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani may be breathing a sigh of relief this morning, assuming he\u2019s seen the reports about his former interpreter\u2019s negotiations with prosecutors.<\/p>\n
According to The New York Times<\/a>, Ippei Mizuhara, whom the Dodgers fired last month, is prepared to plead guilty to at least some of the crimes with which he is accused, likely clearing Ohtani\u2019s name in the process.<\/p>\n Mizuhara allegedly stole $4.5 million from Ohtani, his \u201cclose friend for years,\u201d to pay off gambling debts, according to the Times.<\/p>\n Suspicions were first raised during a federal investigation into Mathew Bowyer, a California man thought to be an illegal bookmaker, according to Fox News<\/a>.<\/p>\n Reporters asked the Dodgers about \u201csuspicious wire transfers from Ohtani\u2019s account\u201d while the team was in South Korea<\/a> for its opening series against the San Diego Padres<\/a>, the Times reported.<\/p>\n Trending:<\/p>\n However, Ohtani was not informed of those questions, the outlet reported, as his interpreter and agent \u201ctried to manage the crisis themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n At first, Mizuhara told Ohtani\u2019s agent that Ohtani had paid the gambling debts of an unnamed fellow player, but he later confessed that the debts were his.<\/p>\n After the opening game, Mizuhara was asked by the Dodgers to address the team, whose executives \u2014 along with those of Major League Baseball \u2014 had grown concerned that a gambling scandal could damage the reputation of the highest-paid player<\/a> not only in MLB, but in all of North American sports.<\/p>\n Apparently relying on his good friend\u2019s limited understanding of English, Mizuhara confessed to a gambling addiction at a team meeting, but claimed that Ohtani had paid off his debts, the Times said.<\/p>\n Do you believe that Shohei Ohtani knew nothing about his friend’s illegal gambling?<\/p>\n \nYes: 64% (7 Votes)\n<\/p>\n \nNo: 36% (4 Votes)\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n But even Ohtani\u2019s limited English, which is sufficient to allow him to \u201cunderstand the gist of some conversations,\u201d according to the Times, was enough to cause him to be suspicious of his friend\u2019s comments at the meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter Mizuhara\u2019s clubhouse address, Ohtani told reporters, he confronted Mizuhara back at the team hotel,\u201d the paper reported. \u201cIt was then, Ohtani said, that Mizuhara told him that he had stolen the money from his account.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Dodgers promptly fired him,\u201d the Times added.<\/p>\n Fox noted that some suspected that the debts were, in fact, Ohtani\u2019s, and that his long-time friend was taking the fall<\/a> for him.<\/p>\n Ohtani, however, argued that he \u201cnever bet on baseball or any other sports, or never have asked somebody to do that on my behalf,\u201d according to Fox, and the accused bookie\u2019s lawyer supported that claim.<\/p>\n