sports
ESPN releases trailer for documentary on Ohtani translator case
ESPN’s “30 for 30” account posted a trailer on Monday for a series titled “The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani” that includes an interview with the former translator for Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani. The translator was sentenced in February 2025 to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay $18 million in restitution after pleading guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return.
Jul 20, 7:15 PM·1m read1 source
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ESPN’s “30 for 30” account posted a trailer on Monday for an upcoming documentary series that includes an interview with the former translator for Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani. ” The translator was sentenced in February 2025 to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay $18 million in restitution after pleading guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return.
The prison sentence began March 24, 2025, which means release is scheduled for December 2029. The translator had stolen approximately $17 million from the player’s accounts to cover gambling debts.
The translator exploited a personal and professional relationship with the player, impersonating the player in communications with bankers at times. The translator’s sports gambling activity produced a net loss of nearly $41 million, with no bets placed on baseball.
The upcoming documentary will mark the first public statements from the translator since the sentencing. The interview could provide additional details about the relationship and the handling of the player’s accounts.
