Lionsgate Television is turning spotlighting a gripping tale involving Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, announcing a scripted series in the works. The show will trace Ohtani’s remarkable journey, from his historic contract with the Dodgers to the shocking revelation that his ex-interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, allegedly embezzled millions to cover gambling debts.
The scandal rocked the baseball world, leading to Mizuhara’s dismissal by the Dodgers and his subsequent surrender to federal authorities. Recently, he agreed to plead guilty to charges of bank fraud related to the case, with his arraignment scheduled for May 14.
Lionsgate is developing a scripted series around MLB’s ‘biggest sports gambling scandal since Pete Rose’ 👀 pic.twitter.com/kCFasefb5b
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) May 9, 2024
The series will be produced by Tony Award winner Scott Delman and sports reporter Albert Chen. Delman, known for his work on “Station 11” and Broadway hits like “The Book of Mormon,” expressed excitement about partnering with Lionsgate Television to bring this extraordinary story to life. Meanwhile, Chen, author of “Billion Dollar Fantasy” and former senior editor at “Sports Illustrated,” highlighted the significance of unraveling a tale of trust, betrayal, and the allure of fame and fortune.
The series promises to delve into one of Major League Baseball’s most significant gambling scandals, centered around its brightest star, Ohtani, whose journey from trust to turmoil will captivate audiences with its raw emotion and compelling narrative.
Inside The Ippei Mizuhara Betting Scandal
Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter and manager, Ippei Mizuhara, has agreed to plead guilty to charges of bank fraud for allegedly stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani’s accounts to cover his gambling debts. The U.S. Department of Justice announced this development, with Mizuhara’s arraignment scheduled for May 14.
Mizuhara, facing charges carrying a maximum sentence of 30 years for bank fraud and three years for submitting a false tax return, is expected to be deported to Japan, his country of birth. He was fired by the Dodgers amid reports of millions being wired to an alleged illegal bookmaker, Mathew Bowyer, with Ohtani accusing Mizuhara of theft.
Federal authorities outlined in a 37-page affidavit how Mizuhara accessed Ohtani’s accounts and used the money for illegal sports betting. The plea agreement states that Mizuhara made numerous wire transfers from Ohtani’s account, amounting to over $16.9 million.
Their relationship, dating back to Ohtani’s time in Japan, involved Mizuhara handling various tasks for Ohtani, including financial matters. Mizuhara even used Ohtani’s money to pay for his own dental work, according to court documents. Ohtani, currently in his first year of a 10-year contract with the Dodgers, expressed shock and sadness over the situation but hasn’t publicly addressed it since March. The case underscores the betrayal of trust and the significant consequences faced by Mizuhara for his actions.
