The Internal Revenue Service has confirmed that alleged bookmaker Matthew Boyer and former Shohei Ohtani translator Ibi Mizuhara are now under criminal investigation, according to the Associated Press.
This news comes as media organizations reveal inconsistencies in claims about Mizuhara’s background. These matters because his story about why money was transferred from Ohtani’s accounts to the alleged bookmaker Boyer changed after the news broke, creating doubts about its authenticity.
As the story stands now, $4.5 million was transferred from Ohtani’s accounts to Boyer. Mizuhara originally said Ohtani was helping him cover his gambling debts out of friendship. That story, which appeared in an interview with ESPN, was later retracted. Now, Ohtani’s lawyers claim the money was stolen without Ohtani’s knowledge in a “large-scale theft.”
Mizuhara worked with the Los Angeles Angels as Ohtani’s interpreter from 2018-23. His resume there claims he graduated from the University of California-Riverside in 2007.
But NBC Los Angeles reports that there is no record of a corroborator in the university’s database.
“Our university records do not show that a student named Ibe Mizuhara attended UC Riverside,” a university spokesperson said. The athlete.
Claims that Mizuhara previously worked as an interpreter for former pitcher Hideki Okajima were also denied.
Multiple news reports indicate that Mizuhara worked with Okajima for the Red Sox in 2010. The Red Sox dispute this claim.
“We are reaching out to all of you due to reports in various media outlets that Ibei Mizuhara worked for the Red Sox as an interpreter, which is not true,” the Red Sox said in a statement issued to several media outlets. The athlete.
“Mizuhara was never employed by the Boston Red Sox in any capacity and was not a translator for Hideki Okajima during the pitcher’s time with the team. Please know that we have carefully checked our files to ensure that we are providing accurate information.”
Mizuhara’s biography also claims that he served as Okajima’s interpreter with the Yankees during spring training in 2012. But Okajima was released by the Yankees on February 17, 2012, before the official start of spring training.
Earlier this week, MLB said it was investigating the situation. To date, no one has been charged with a crime.