The US Department of Justice has sought a postponement in the arraignment proceedings against Ippei Mizuhara, who stands accused of involvement in illegal sports betting activities resulting in significant financial losses. Mizuhara's arraignment was initially scheduled for Thursday, May 9.
In a motion filed with the US District Court for the Central District of California, federal prosecutors have requested that Mizuhara's arraignment be rescheduled to May 14. The motion, submitted by US Attorney Martin Estrada, cited the need for additional time to prepare for the proceedings. Mizuhara's legal representative, Michael Friedman, consented to the request for a delay. However, the court has yet to grant approval for the postponement.
Mizuhara, who previously served as a translator for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, faces allegations of embezzling funds amounting to $16 million to settle gambling debts. He surrendered to authorities on April 12 and was subsequently charged with bank fraud for allegedly accessing Ohtani's accounts without authorization. Investigators assert that Ohtani was unwittingly drawn into Mizuhara's deceptive activities, rendering him a victim in the scheme.
The outcome of the arraignment proceedings, once rescheduled, will shed further light on Mizuhara's legal predicament and the potential ramifications of the charges leveled against him.
