Translator's Fraud in MLB: Ohtani's Case Unveiled (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: New evidence in a bombshell fraud case involving the biggest star in baseball. His former translator charged with stealing millions of dollars from him. Now we're hearing the evidence. This morning investigators releasing new audio in the fraud case that rocked Major League Baseball.

Speaker 2: Who am I speaking with? Shohei Ohtani.

Speaker 1: But they say that's not Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. It's his interpreter at the time, Ipe Misuhara. Will there be any future wires to your friend?

Speaker 2: Possibly.

Speaker 1: In April last year, Misuhara was charged with bank fraud, accused of impersonating Ohtani on calls to a bank to steal nearly 17 million dollars from the World Series champion. In a recorded call with the bank, first obtained by The Athletic, Misuhara can allegedly be heard claiming he's Ohtani, apparently passing all the necessary security questions while trying to wire himself $200,000.

Speaker 2: For $200,000.

Speaker 1: What is the reason for this transaction?

Speaker 2: For a car loan.

Speaker 1: Authorities say he stole the cash in part to pay off gambling debts, topping $40 million, allegedly telling a bookmaker, technically I did steal from him. It's all over for me.

Speaker 2: Mr. Misuhara stole this money largely to finance his voracious appetite for illegal sports betting.

Speaker 1: Misuhara has pleaded guilty. Prosecutors are asking for a nearly five-year prison sentence. They also want to force him to pay back nearly $17 million. Misuhara's lawyer says his client suffered from a gambling addiction. He's asking for an 18-month sentence. A judge decides February 6th.