- Stock markets diverge as Hong Kong sinks, oil prices fall
- US trade gap narrowest in five months as imports slip
- Stay and 'you are going to die': Florida braces for next hurricane
- England 96-1 after Salman's century lifts Pakistan to 556
- Hollywood star Idris Elba champions African cinema in Ghana
- Djokovic rolls Cobolli to make Shanghai Masters last 16
- Milan's Hernandez receives two-game suspension after referee rant
- Geoffrey Hinton, soft-spoken godfather of AI
- Ex-Barcelona and Spain great Iniesta retires aged 40
- Duo wins Physics Nobel for 'foundational' AI breakthroughs
- German 'Maddie' suspect could be free in 2025 after cleared of separate sex crimes
- China slaps provisional tariffs on EU brandy imports
- Ex-skipper Skelton eyes Wallabies November return
- Spanish great Iniesta leaves indelible legacy after retirement
- Indian Kashmir elects first regional government in a decade
- Hong Kong stocks crash, oil prices retreat on fading China boost
- Man City accuse Premier League of 'misleading' claims after legal case
- Duo wins Physics Nobel for key breakthroughs in AI
- Agha defies England as Pakistan post 515-8 in first Test
- September second-warmest on record: EU climate monitor
- Pastor wanted by US for sex trafficking to run for Philippine senate
- Mozambican writer Mia Couto dreams future leaders set an 'example'
- German 'Maddie' suspect could be free soon after cleared of separate sex crimes
- China says to take anti-dumping measures against EU brandy imports
- German suspect in 'Maddie' case cleared in separate sex crimes trial
- Israel expands offensive against Hezbollah in south Lebanon
- China stocks rally fizzles on stimulus worries amid Asia retreat
- Bangladesh's Yunus says no elections before reforms
- England strike twice as Pakistan reach 397-6 at lunch in first Test
- China stocks rally peters out on stimulus worries amid Asia retreat
- Taiwan's Foxconn says building world's largest 'superchip' plant
- Kenya's deputy president faces impeachment vote
- N. Korean soldiers 'highly likely' killed in Ukraine: Seoul
- 'Appeals Centre' to referee EU social media disputes
- US Supreme Court to hear 'ghost guns' regulation case
- 'Small' oil leaks detected in Samoa after NZ navy shipwreck
- Nobel literature jury may go for non-Western writer
- At Istanbul church, blessed spring offers hope to Christians and Muslims
- From Bolivia to Indonesia, deforestation continues apace
- Myanmar to send rep to regional summit for first time in three years
- Prabowo set to lead bolder Indonesia on world stage
- Tampa zoo rushes Chompers the porcupine and others to safety as Milton nears
- Shanghai stocks pare early surge on stimulus worries amid Asia retreat
- New Japan PM to hold talks on ASEAN sidelines
- Record number of climbers chase 14-peak dream in Tibet
- Former South Korea clinic for US 'comfort women' to be demolished
- China holds off on fresh stimulus but 'confident' will hit growth target
- Chiefs battle past Saints to stay unbeaten
- Deal on climate aid hangs in balance at UN COP29 summit
- Royals hit back against Yankees, Tigers maul Guardians
RBGPF | -0.46% | 60.52 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.53% | 24.57 | $ | |
CMSD | 0% | 24.79 | $ | |
SCS | -0.54% | 12.881 | $ | |
RIO | -4.71% | 66.49 | $ | |
NGG | 0.4% | 65.74 | $ | |
GSK | -1.08% | 38.218 | $ | |
RELX | 0.97% | 46.49 | $ | |
BTI | 0.01% | 35.205 | $ | |
JRI | 0.23% | 13.21 | $ | |
AZN | 0.07% | 76.925 | $ | |
BP | -3.22% | 32.105 | $ | |
BCC | 1.14% | 142.9 | $ | |
RYCEF | -0.15% | 6.87 | $ | |
VOD | -0.05% | 9.685 | $ | |
BCE | -0.45% | 33.38 | $ |
Ohtani's ex-interpreter pleads guilty to stealing nearly $17 mn from baseball star
Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court to stealing nearly $17 million from the baseball star to pay off illegal gambling debts.
Mizuhara has admitted to one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum 30-year prison sentence, and one count of filing a false tax return, which has a maximum three-year prison sentence, according to the US Attorney's Office.
US District Judge John Holcomb has scheduled sentencing for October 25.
Mizuhara, 39, appeared at a hearing in federal court in Santa Ana, mobbed by photographers as he entered the courthouse, after reaching a deal with prosecutors as part of a broader federal sports gambling investigation.
Los Angeles Dodgers' star Ohtani's long-time friend took millions of dollars from the star's bank account to finance an "insatiable appetite" for illegal sports gambling, prosecutors said.
Mizuhara surrendered to federal authorities in April 12 and was released on bond.
Japanese slugger and pitching star Ohtani, whose two-way skills had many comparing him to iconic Babe Ruth among Major League Baseball's greatest legends, signed the richest contract in North American sports history to join the Dodgers last December, a deal worth $700 million.
After an initial April court appearance, Mizuhara's lawyer said his client wished to apologize to "Ohtani, the Dodgers, and Major League Baseball" for his actions and wanted to "take responsibility" for what he had done.
The revelations surrounding Mizuhara erupted as the baseball season began in March, but prosecutors have stressed that Ohtani was an innocent victim of Mizuhara's deception and that there was no evidence to suggest the Dodgers star was aware of illegal gambling or involved in such matters.
Mizuhara had worked for Ohtani as an interpreter since the Japanese star joined the Los Angeles Angels six years ago, setting up a bank account for Ohtani in Arizona, the eventual source of wire transfers by Mizuhara to the illegal gambling operation, US Attorney Martin Estrada said.
Estrada said Mizuhara allegedly lied to bank officials and was recorded on telephone calls impersonating Ohtani to "convince the bank to approve large wire transfers of large amounts of money to the bookmakers."
Estrada said Mizuhara would "plunder" Ohtani's bank account to commit "fraud on a massive scale."
A criminal complaint released by prosecutors detailed a staggering volume of bets placed by Mizuhara, who exploited the language barrier to keep Ohtani, his management team and financial advisers unaware of his moves.
The complaint revealed that between December 2021 and January 2024, Mizuhara placed approximately 19,000 bets ranging in value from $10 to $160,000 at an average of around $12,800 per bet.
Mizuhara had winning bets worth $142.3 million, and losing bets of $182.9 million -- leaving him with losses of roughly $40.7 million.
The Dodgers fired Mizuhara earlier this year once the investigation became public.
- No bets on baseball -
Ohtani denied any knowledge of Mizuhara's activities, saying, "I never bet on baseball or any other sports or never have asked somebody to bet on my behalf," adding that Mizuhara "has been stealing money from my account and has told lies."
Estrada said no illegal bets by Mizuhara were placed on baseball games.
Prosecutors said Mizuhara took money from Ohtani to pay for $325,000 in baseball cards and $60,000 worth of dental work.
The tax return charge stems from 2022, in which Mizuhara claimed only $136,865 in taxable income when the true figure, prosecutors said, was above $4.1 million.
In the plea deal, Mizuhara admitted owing more than $1.1 million in 2022 taxes.
L.Davis--AMWN