Ippei Mizuhara arraignment: Ohtani's ex-interpreter pleads not guilty with plea deal in place

Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani accused of stealing $17 million from the baseball superstar, pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles federal court Tuesday, but his attorney reiterated to a judge that Mizuhara has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors

Mizuhara, 39, was arraigned on one charge of bank fraud and one charge of subscribing to a false tax return. Attorney Michael Freedman told U.S. Magistrate Judge Jean P. Rosenbluth that Mizuhara planned to plead guilty in a future appearance, according to multiple news reports from the courthouse.

Mizuhara could face up to 30 years for the first count and an and additional three years for the second, although his lack of criminal record, cooperation and eligibility for minimum-sentence reductions could result in less jail time. The plea agreement also states that Mizuhara must pay nearly $17 million in restitution for money taken from Ohtani.

Mizuhara was hired by the Los Angeles Angels as Ohtani's interpreter before the Japanese star began his Major League Baseball career in 2018, and also served as a personal assistant of sorts for the two-way player. After Ohtani signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December, Mizuhara joined him with the club up the freeway.

But just as the Dodgers' season got underway in March, reports from ESPN and the Los Angeles Times tied Mizuhara to an alleged bookmaker under federal investigation, and Ohtani's representatives claimed the interpreter stole millions of dollars from Ohtani to support a gambling habit.

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Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers and his phone confiscated by federal agents after he arrived from South Korea, where the Dodgers opened the season. An indictment followed in April, leading to Mizuhara signing a plea deal May 5.

Freedman refused further comment outside the courthouse, according to multiple reports.