sport news Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara released on $25,000 bond and ... trends now
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Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was released on a $25,000 bond and ordered to undergo gambling addiction treatment after appearing in court accused of stealing $16million from the Dodgers star to cover his debts.
The 39-year-old, who surrendered to authorities earlier on Friday, did not enter a plea during the proceeding in downtown Los Angeles. He apologized through a lawyer and was ordered to return for an arraignment on May 9.
Mizuhara is charged with one count of bank fraud and faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if convicted.
Wearing a dark suit and a white shirt, he entered the courtroom with his ankles shackled before the judge approved his attorney's request to remove them.
Mizuhara is accused of wiring the funds without Ohtani's knowledge to an illegal sports gambling operation. According to the federal affidavit, Mizuhara began gambling with the illegal book in late 2021, losing substantial sums.
Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara appeared in court in Los Angeles on Friday
Mizuhara's attorney, Michael Freedman, issued a statement saying his client 'wishes to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and his family.'
