Federal charges allege former interpreter stole $16m from Shohei Ohtani

• Ippei Mizuhara faces 30 years in jail if found guilty
• Interpreter allegedly stole money to pay gambling debts

The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is being charged with federal bank fraud for crimes involving gambling debts and theft of millions of dollars from the Japanese slugger, federal authorities said on Thursday.

Ippei Mizuhara served as Ohtani's interpreter after Ohtani came to the US to play for the Los Angeles Angels in 2018. The two were close friends beyond their working relationship and US attorney Martin Estrada says Mizhuara acted as Mr Ohtani's de facto manager."