Japanese Baseball Star Shohei Ohtani Victim of $17M Fraud Scheme by Former Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara

Los Angeles, California United States of America
Former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara gained unauthorized access to Ohtani's bank account
Fraudulently transferred approximately $17M from Ohtani's account over months
Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani was victim of $17M fraud scheme
Mizuhara faces multiple federal charges including bank fraud and filing false tax return
Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani and changed contact information on account
Money used for illegal gambling debts and other expenses
Japanese Baseball Star Shohei Ohtani Victim of $17M Fraud Scheme by Former Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara

Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese baseball star currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been the victim of a massive fraud scheme orchestrated by his former interpreter and translator, Ippei Mizuhara. According to reports from multiple sources including NBC News, ABC News, ESPN, and AP News,

Mizuhara gained unauthorized access to Ohtani's bank account using the player's password without his knowledge or permission. He then impersonated Ohtani and changed the registered email address and telephone number on the account so that bank employees would contact him instead of Ohtani when attempting to verify wire transfers from the account.

Using this method, Mizuhara fraudulently transferred approximately $17 million from Ohtani's account over a period of months. The money was allegedly used to pay off illegal gambling debts and other expenses.

Mizuhara faces multiple federal charges including bank fraud and filing a false tax return. He is expected to enter a guilty plea in the coming weeks, with an arraignment scheduled for May 14, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Ohtani, who speaks no English, has played in the United States since 2018 and became a household name when he signed a historic $700 million contract with the Dodgers before this season.

This is a developing story and more information will be provided as it becomes available.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Are all sources reporting the same details about the amount of money stolen?
  • Is there any evidence that Ohtani was aware of or involved in the illegal activities Mizuhara used his money for?

Sources

78%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, to plead guilty to stealing millions from star player

ABC NEWS SITE NAMES Name: ABC News Site Names URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-officially-blames-iran_106834435 ABC News Thursday, 09 May 2024 02:01
  • Unique Points
    • Ippei Mizuhara stole nearly $17 million from Shohei Ohtani's account without his permission.
    • Mizuhara falsely claimed a taxable income of $136,865 for the year 2022 when he actually failed to report an additional $4.1 million.
    • Mizuhara began making bets with an illegal bookmaker in September 2021, lost wagers and ran up a massive bill.
    • Mizuhara used Ohtani’s password to get to his bank account without his knowledge or permission.
    • He changed the registered email address and telephone number on the account so bank employees would call him instead of Ohtani when attempting to verify wire transfers from the account.
  • Accuracy
    • Ippei Mizuhara stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani's account to cover gambling debts.
    • Mizuhara changed the registered email address and telephone number on the account so bank employees would call him instead of Ohtani when attempting to verify wire transfers from the account.
  • Deception (0%)
    The author makes editorializing statements in the article, such as 'The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is massive.' and 'He took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel a dangerous gambling habit.', which are not facts but rather the author's opinions.
    • He took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel a dangerous gambling habit.
    • The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is massive.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

78%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Ohtani's ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara to plead guilty to bank, tax fraud

NBA Nuggets (Mar 7, 2024) Game Recap - ESPN Issue of the Site: NBA Issues Of The Site. This is a sample name for this site. Paula Lavigne Thursday, 09 May 2024 02:02
  • Unique Points
    • Ippei Mizuhara agreed to plead guilty to federal charges of felony bank fraud and submitting a false tax return
    • Mizuhara is expected to enter his guilty plea in the coming weeks, arraignment scheduled for Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
    • Total maximum sentence Mizuhara could receive is 33 years imprisonment and fines of $1.25 million
    • Mizuhara will be required to pay full restitution, or $16,975,010, to Ohtani
    • Federal authorities filed complaint against Mizuhara on April 11 after ESPN investigation detailing wire transfers of $500,000 from Ohtani’s bank account to the bookmaking operation
  • Accuracy
    • Ippei Mizuhara stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani's account to cover gambling debts.
    • Mizuhara changed contact information on Ohtani’s bank accounts and impersonated him on phone calls with banks at least 24 times.
    • Mizuhara filed a false tax return for tax year 2022, failed to report $4.1 million and owes an additional $1.15 million in taxes.
  • Deception (0%)
    The article contains multiple examples of deception by Paula Lavigne. Firstly, she presents herself as an investigative reporter for ESPN but fails to disclose that she was the one who initially broke the story about Ohtani's money being transferred to a bookmaking operation. This is an example of selective reporting and omission, as it only presents information that supports her initial narrative without providing context or acknowledging potential alternative explanations. Secondly, Lavigne quotes Special Agent Hatcher stating that Mizuhara 'exploited his relationship with Mr. Ohtani to bankroll his own irresponsibility.' This is an example of editorializing and pontification, as it goes beyond the facts presented in the article and implies a moral judgment on Mizuhara's actions. Lastly, Lavigne states that Mizuhara 'filed a false tax return for tax year 2022,' but fails to provide any evidence or context for this claim other than mentioning it in passing. This is an example of sensationalism and selective reporting, as it presents a potentially significant allegation without providing any supporting details or context.
    • Paula Lavigne presents herself as an investigative reporter for ESPN but fails to disclose that she was the one who initially broke the story about Ohtani's money being transferred to a bookmaking operation.
    • Special Agent Hatcher states 'Mr. Mizuhara exploited his relationship with Mr. Ohtani to bankroll his own irresponsibility.'
    • Lavigne states 'Mizuhara filed a false tax return for tax year 2022,' but fails to provide any evidence or context for this claim.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Shohei Ohtani’s former translator to plead guilty to transferring $17M from MLB star’s bank account

NBC News Digital Thursday, 09 May 2024 02:03
  • Unique Points
    • Ippei Mizuhara used Ohtani’s password to get to his bank account without his knowledge or permission.
    • , Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani and used his personal identifying information to deceive the bank’s employees to make wire transfers.
    • Mizuhara changed the registered email address and telephone number on the account so bank employees would call him instead of Ohtani when attempting to verify wire transfers from the account.
    • Mizuhara orchestrated a scheme to deceive and cheat the bank to fraudulently obtain money from Ohtani’s account.
    • Mizuhara stole $325,000 from Ohtani’s account to buy baseball cards over three months this year with a plan to resell them for a profit.
  • Accuracy
    • Ippei Mizuhara transferred $500,000 from Shohei Ohtani's account to an associate of the bookmaker.
    • , Mizuhara changed contact information on Ohtani’s bank accounts and impersonated him on phone calls with banks at least 24 times.
    • Mizuhara began stealing money from Ohtani’s account in 2021 and falsified his tax returns for 2022 by underreporting income by over $4 million.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

78%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, will plead guilty in betting case

The Associated Press News Wednesday, 08 May 2024 20:38
  • Unique Points
    • Ippei Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani to bankers and changed security protocols on his account.
    • , Mizuhara began stealing money from Ohtani’s account in 2021 and falsified his tax returns for 2022 by underreporting income by over $4 million.
    • Mizuhara faced up to 33 years in federal prison for the charges.
    • Restitution could total nearly $17 million and over $1 million to the IRS.
  • Accuracy
    • Ippei Mizuhara stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani's account to cover gambling debts.
    • Mizuhara faces up to 33 years in federal prison for the charges.
  • Deception (0%)
    The article contains editorializing and pontification by the author in the form of statements like 'The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is massive.' and 'He took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel a dangerous gambling habit.', which are not facts but rather opinions. The author also uses emotional manipulation by describing the shocking nature of the scandal to readers.
    • He took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel a dangerous gambling habit.
    • The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is massive.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

78%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara reaches plea agreement on 2 federal charges

CNN News Network Steve Almasy, Wednesday, 08 May 2024 20:48
  • Unique Points
    • Ippei Mizuhara used Ohtani’s password to access his bank account without permission and transferred approximately $16.5 million.
    • Mizuhara changed the account’s security protocols and impersonated Ohtani on approximately 24 occasions to make these transfers.
    • The money was allegedly used to pay off illegal gambling debts and other expenses.
    • Mizuhara could face deportation as he is not a US citizen, but a legal permanent resident with a green card.
  • Accuracy
    • Ippei Mizuhara transferred approximately $16.5 million from Shohei Ohtani's account without permission.
    • Mizuhara changed the account's security protocols and impersonated Ohtani on approximately 24 occasions to make these transfers.
    • The money was allegedly used to pay off illegal gambling debts and other expenses.
  • Deception (0%)
    The article reports on a plea agreement between Ippei Mizuhara and the US Department of Justice for illegally transferring $17 million from Shohei Ohtani's bank account without his knowledge or permission. The authors use descriptive language to convey the severity of the situation, stating that Mizuhara 'took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani.' This is an example of editorializing and pontification by the authors. They also state that Mizuhara could be deported as he is not a US citizen, which is irrelevant to the deception in the article and serves only to manipulate emotions.
    • The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is massive.
    • The former interpreter and longtime friend of MLB megastar Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to illegally transferring almost $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account, according to a news release from the US Department of Justice.
    • They also state that Mizuhara could be deported as he is not a US citizen.
    • This is a developing story and will be updated.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication