A Reality TV Star Received Illegal Wire Transfers From Shohei Ohtani's Interpreter: Report

The former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani illegally wired money from a bank account belonging to the Los Angeles Dodgers star to reality TV star Ryan Boyajian, according to a new report from ESPN.

The report identifies a bookmaker's associate — whose identity was hidden in the Department of Justice complaint against interpreter Ippei Mizuhara — as Boyajian, a longtime associate of bookmaker Mathew Bowyer and a cast member of "The Real Housewives of Orange County."

It was Boyajian, not Bowyer, who collected the gambling debts Mizuhara illegally stole from an account belonging to Ohtani, according to the federal investigation.

ESPN, citing multiple sources, reported Boyajian received immunity in return for his testimony against Mizuhara. Boyajian, 47, and Bowyer, 49, were friends and business associates for nearly 20 years, according to the report.

The report comes on the same day Mizuhara pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and subscribing to a false tax return. According to Meghann Cuniff of the Washington Post, Mizuhara could face up to nine years in federal prison:

The revelations are the latest in a still-unfolding saga involving MLB's highest-profile player. The Dodgers fired Mizuhara one day into their season, after he addressed the team and Ohtani separately to take responsibility for the theft of more than $16 million from Ohtani's bank account.

Off the field, the fallout has been difficult to understate. In a rare and extensive public press conference, Ohtani claimed he was the victim of theft, disavowing any knowledge of or involvement in Mizuhara's gambling. In April, the Department of Justice held a press conference of its own, and released a 37-page complaint against Mizuhara that detailed the breadth of Mizuhara's gambling activities — most of which occurred during Ohtani's time with the Los Angeles Angels.

"I want to emphasize this point: Mr. Ohtani is considered a victim in this case," U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada said at the time. "There is no evidence Mr. Ohtani authorized the over $16 million of transfers."

Major League Baseball also said it would investigate the scandal on its own; the league is expected to clear Ohtani of any wrongdoing. Betting on baseball is explicitly prohibited by MLB rules. The federal investigation surfaced no evidence that even Mizuhara used Ohtani's money to wager on major league games.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Mizuhara will be required to pay full restitution to his victims, which includes $16,975,010 to Ohtani and $1,149,400 to the IRS.

Meanwhile, Ohtani has been unfazed by any off-the-field distractions. He entered Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins leading MLB in batting average (.365), home runs (11), doubles (14), and runs scored (32). Ohtani is simultaneously throwing before games as he looks to return to the mound as a pitcher in the 2025 season.