Ohtani's ex-interpreter pleads guilty in sports betting case

At least no interpreter needed for pleading guilty, only local lawyer.

A really good friend!

Mizuhara faces numerous consequences including possibly being deported to Japan, Estrada said.

A fate worse than a fate worse than death.

What a slob. You're in court. Show some courtroom decorum and wear a friggin' button-up shirt and a tie under that jacket, not your damn undershirt. You're in court on felony charges...you aren't at a cocktail party for tech entrepreneurs. Is his lawyer an idiot letting him dress like that? I realize it wasn't his sentencing today, but every impression counts leading up to it.

Mizuhara never had the chance to read "The Art of the Steal" (prison edition forthcoming) and so he'll pay for his criminal incompetence with a long stretch in a cell where he can write his own memoirs (best-seller in Japan?). Weird to think Ohtani is so wealthy he won't feel the loss of $17million, but the painful memory of a trust betrayed.

From the article:

The ex-interpreter had exploited his personal and professional relationship with Ohtani to plunder millions from the two-way player’s account for years, at times impersonating Ohtani to bankers.

Yeah, yeah, it's like he put on high heals, and donned a wig when doing his impersonation. And he used a hanko.

And:

“Mr Ohtani is an immigrant who came to this country, is not familiar with the ways of this country and therefore was easily prey to someone who was more familiar with our financial systems,” blah, blah blah

Yeah, well some immigrants are treated differently to others, aye.

These are staggering amounts of money.

One still has to question how this interpreter managed to get access to 17 million dollars without Ohtani and or others not noticing sooner.

One still has to question how this interpreter managed to get access to 17 million dollars without Ohtani and or others not noticing sooner.

Absolutely.

He did the crime in America let him serve all the time there.then then maybe think about the deportation later

Never liked this guy. Always came across as a creepy individual, hitching his wagon to someone with talent - the opposite of himself.

@tigerjane It appears you didn't read the article perhaps you ONLY READ the headlines. Mizuhara was able to deceive the bank to get money from the account" by signing into the account online and changing the registered phone number and email for the account so communication would be routed to Mizuhara instead of the player". On multiple occasions from 2021 to 2024, "Mizuhara initiated wire transfers from the account and received a six-digit code from the bank to complete the transactions".

One still has to question how this interpreter managed to get access to 17 million dollars without Ohtani and or others not noticing sooner.

@kaimycahi

ohtani must be on a completely different plane of existence with regards to financial literacy compared to us ordinary plebs, but im sure we all regularly log into our own accounts to identify for any suspicious transactions. $17 million over the span of several years is probably just a drop in the bucket for shohei, but you'd think he still logs in to his various accounts, even just to see how many figures are in his balance

ohtani must be on a completely different plane of existence with regards to financial literacy compared to us ordinary plebs

No, he’s more likely just on a different plane of existence from the rest of us plebs in regards to financial complexity.

it’s a lot easier to see missing money when you don’t have much, meaning there are fewer places to look, and therefore easier to notice.

"Mizuhara initiated wire transfers from the account and received a six-digit code from the bank to complete the transactions".

Massive, massive, massive security hole, if that is the case. And has this "loophole" been closed?

Needs to be in investigation for utter incompetence by the bank side. I actually find this hard to believe myself.

No, he’s more likely just on a different plane of existence from the rest of us plebs in regards to financial complexity.

All the more reason to stay on top of things. "A fool and his money are soon parted" applies to all tax brackets.

All the more reason to stay on top of things. "A fool and his money are soon parted" applies to all tax brackets.

Sure. But he's still stupidly rich. I'd guess he'll be more diligent moving forward.

Mizuhara faces numerous consequences including possibly being deported to Japan, Estrada said.

I thought Mizuhara was American. If so, then he can't be deported. Where to?

I thought Mizuhara was American. If so, then he can't be deported. Where to?

That was my bad. So, he can be deported back to Japan after his sentence. The reason I thought Mizuhara was American was because I got that from my brother-in-law (my sister's husband) who's a journalist in LA. At least Mizuhara took responsibility for his actions.