Ippei Mizuhara, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ translator for Shohei Ohtani, was fired on Wednesday amid inquiries over wire transactions from Ohtani’s account totaling more than $4.5 million to a bookmaking enterprise that is the subject of a federal investigation in Southern California.
Ohtani’s close friend Mizuhara reportedly racked up gambling debts, which set off a series of events that ended with his firing in response to questions from the media.
At first, an Ohtani representative said that the baseball star had paid off Mizuhara’s debt from gambling. Mizuhara then gave a thorough 90-minute interview on Tuesday evening. But the spokesman refuted Mizuhara’s allegation as ESPN got ready to release the report on Wednesday, saying Ohtani’s legal team would make a statement instead. The abrupt turn of events created curiosity among readers over the contradicting stories.
“In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities,”
The Dodgers and Mizuhara
While the activities of Southern California bookmaker Mathew Bowyer are the subject of a federal investigation, an announcement made by Berk Brettler has sparked interest. Key player Mizuhara did not respond to questions regarding allegations of stealing or guidance from unidentified sources.
Surprisingly, wire transfer records imply that funds were made to a Bowyer associate from Ohtani’s account. Though the situation is unclear, Ohtani strongly disputes any role in gaming, claiming the money was intended to compensate Mizuhara for her losses. More disclosures and a search for the truth are promised in this growing story.
Even though sports betting is permitted in nearly forty US states, it is still illegal in California. While bookies governed by the government need payment in full upfront, black market bookmakers provide credit betting.
Except for baseball, it discloses Clint Bowyer’s participation in international soccer and other sports betting through a direct relationship with Mizuhara. Bowyer accepted the beneficiary of the wire transfer, but he didn’t ask questions as long as the money came in. According to rumors, Bowyer used Shohei Ohtani’s status as a customer to his advantage to boost sales.
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