Read full report: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6084445/2025/01/23/shohei-ohtani-interpreter-audio-money-transfer-ippei/

Reported by Evan Drellich and Sam Blum

Federal prosecutors on Thursday disclosed a nearly four-minute audio recording which they said showed Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter convicted of defrauding Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, attempting to push through a $200,000 wire transfer from one of the player’s accounts.

The recording, obtained by The Athletic from the Department of Justice, was mentioned in a court filing in which prosecutors recommended a nearly five-year sentence and restitution for Mizuhara. He pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return after stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani. Mizuhara is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 6.

In his own filing in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California later Thursday, Mizuhara cited a serious gambling addiction — he racked up a debt of $40.7 million — and deep regret for his crimes in asking the court for a much shorter sentence, 18 months. Prosecutors requested 57.

The recording, which assistant U.S. attorney Jeff Mitchell said was obtained from a bank, was filed to back up the prosecution’s claims that Mizuhara repeatedly called the bank to arrange wire transfers, having bypassed security measures by routing Ohtani’s online account information to his own email and phone number.

“Who am I speaking with?” a bank agent asks in the clip.

“Shohei Ohtani,” Mizuhara answers.

The agent goes through a two-factor authentication process, asking Mizuhara to recite a six-digit number relayed by text message to the phone number linked to the account — a number that matches Mizuhara’s personal cell.

The agent later asks for details about the transaction.

“Now recently, we’ve come across a trend of fraud and scams, so we have been monitoring the online transactions closely to make sure our clients are not the victim of either,” the agent says. “What is the reason for this transaction?”

Mizuhara says that it’s for a car loan.

“What is your relationship to the payee?” the agent asks.

“He’s my friend,” Mizuhara says.

“Have you met your friend in person?” the agent responds.

“Yes, many times,” Mizuhara says.

Mizuhara is later asked if “there will be any future wires to your friend?”

“Uh, possibly,” he responds.

https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2016825807&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true

The audio was edited to redact the names of the bank and an “unindicted co-conspirator.”

Prosecutors asked for restitution of nearly $17 million to Ohtani and another $1.1 million to the IRS, but noted in the filing Mizuhara is unable to pay back Ohtani. A $200 fine is also included.