By Alfredo Echenique Lugo
08 May 2024, 16:33 PM EDT
Investigations into the case of illegal sports betting by Shohei Ohtani’s former translator continue. Ippei Mizuhara confessed that he had stolen money from the Dodgers player’s account and is now awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, the FBI continues the corresponding investigations, while the MLB also opened its own internal investigation a few weeks ago.
However, recently MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred assured that the league will begin to step aside and let state agencies take charge of the investigation. So the MLB will be patient on this issue.
“The indictment provides insight into what exactly happened there.”, Manfred said Monday during his annual meeting with Associated Press sports editors. “Realistically, what makes the most sense for us is to let the criminal process develop a little,” the MLB manager began.
And Manfred assured that the organizations in charge of the investigation have many more tools than the MLB itself. So for them it is more sensible to step aside and be patient in the development of the same investigation.
“Law enforcement officials have tools at their disposal that are much more powerful than what we have,” the commissioner emphasized.
Manfred also stressed the commitment that the MLB has in fighting against illegal betting in sports. ““This method puts us in a favorable position from an integrity point of view,” he concluded.
Mizuhara could face up to 30 years in prison
Shohei Ohtani’s former translator would have stolen $16 million from the player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara would have the keys to all of the player’s bank accounts.
That is why, due to this fact, the Prosecutor’s Office could request up to 30 years in prison for the crimes of bank fraud, massive theft and money laundering.
Keep reading:
· Ippei Mizuhara stole $16 million from Shohei Ohtani for gambling, according to feds
· Shohei Ohtani’s former manager talks about the alleged theft of his translator: “When I found out, I couldn’t believe it”
· “I hope it’s brief”: Rob Manfred is confident that MLB’s investigation into Shohei Ohtani will take a short time