MLB
Money stolen from Shohei Ohtani funneled into Las Vegas casinos
According to an ESPN report by Tisha Thompson, the money allegedly stolen from Ohtani by Mizuhara was transferred to casinos in California and Las Vegas.
Ippei Mizuhara is accused of stealing $16 million from Shohei Ohtani, a player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, to cover illegal gambling debts and now faces up to 30 years in prison for fraud.
It has now been revealed, at least in part, how the interpreter facilitated electronic transfers of $500,000. Based on the report from Tisha Thompson of ESPN, the funds Mizuhara is suspected of stealing from Ohtani were channeled to casinos in California and Las Vegas.
The investigation shows that the pilfered money was deposited into gaming accounts, then converted into chips, and finally cashed out to pay Matthew Bowyer, the bookmaker the interpreter gambled with.
Bowyer was a frequent patron at Resorts World in Las Vegas and the Pechanga Resort Casino in California’s Temecula Valley. According to the same report, the bookmaker lost $7.9 million at the ‘Sin City’ casino between June 2022 and October 2023.
Per a sworn statement obtained by ESPN, Resorts World plays a critical role in the ongoing investigation into money laundering through illegal gambling. To date, 12 individuals have been charged, and two Las Vegas casinos have agreed to pay fines.