The former interpreter of Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty to tax and bank fraud charges at a courthouse south of Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Ippei Mizuhara, 39, is accused of stealing nearly $17m (£13.3m) from Mr Ohtani – who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers – during the years he was employed by the top athlete.
Mr Ohtani is one of the biggest names in modern baseball. He signed a record 10-year, $700m contract with the Dodgers before the 2024 season, becoming a face of the franchise and Major League Baseball.
Prosecutors have said that Mizuhara used the baseball player’s money to pay off his mounting gambling debts.
The guilty plea is part of a deal the ex-interpreter entered with prosecutors in exchange for a reduced…
