Ohtani’s ex-interpreter now due to surrender in June after court allows further delay
Scheduled to begin his prison sentence on Monday, Ippei Mizuhara has been given another month of freedom with a new reporting date set for mid-June.
Courthouse shot Ippei
Rather than entering federal custody on Monday for stealing at least $17 million from Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara was granted a second postponement, court records confirm.
The former interpreter for the Major League Baseball star must now report to prison by 16 June. The updated date comes nearly three months after his original surrender deadline of 24 March. Last June, Mizuhara admitted guilt to one count of bank fraud and one false tax return filing.
Authorities say that during a 37-month span, Mizuhara made more than 19,000 bets through an illegal California gambling ring run by bookmaker Matt Bowyer. He wagered a total of over $325 million, with net losses of about $40.2 million.
Another delay
In February, US District Judge John Holcomb allowed Mizuhara’s request for a voluntary surrender within 45 days after sentencing. The court had sentenced him to 57 months in federal prison, consistent with the higher range of federal guidelines.
Last week, Mizuhara appeared before Holcomb to argue for a further extension of his surrender date. The 8 May hearing occurred days before his scheduled reporting deadline. In April, an unsealed filing revealed Mizuhara had been granted a continuance extending his surrender time.
Holcomb did not specify reasons in the filing for approving Mizuhara’s application. Even before the document was unsealed, there had been speculation about a possible postponement.
By Monday afternoon at around 3pm ET, Mizuhara’s status in the federal database still showed “not in BOP custody.” He remains listed under Bureau of Prisons register number: 09459-511.
