Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter pleads guilty to bank and tax fraud charges in gambling scandal

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud on Wednesday, per the Associated Press.

Mizuhara was alleged of stealing $16 million from Ohtani for sports gambling purposes, running up a whopping $40 million debt in the process. Ohtani was deemed to be a victim in the ordeal and not involved in Mizuhara’s dealings.

Ohtani’s former interpreter reportedly laundered money through a Las Vegas casino, and ESPN shared a strange twist on Wednesday that Mizuhara wired money to The Real Housewives of Orange County star Ryan Boyajian, a bookmaker’s associate, to pay off gambling debts.

Mizuhara could face up to 30 years in prison for a count of bank fraud alone, per the AP, but that sentence will may be lessened by his guilty plea.