Shohei Ohtani is one of the biggest stars in professional baseball, earning hundreds of millions of dollars through his historic career. But behind the scenes, someone he trusted with his everyday communication was secretly draining millions from his bank account.
His name was Epi, Ohtani’s interpreter and personal assistant. For years, he stood beside the baseball superstar, translating conversations, helping him navigate life in America, and handling important day-to-day responsibilities. But a gambling habit would eventually turn that trusted relationship into a shocking financial betrayal.
After accumulating gambling debts, Epi discovered a way to access Ohtani’s bank account. What began with a relatively small withdrawal soon spiraled into a multimillion-dollar scheme involving unauthorized transfers, impersonation, and fraudulent tax filings.
Even as Ohtani signed a historic $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the theft continued. Epi placed enormous numbers of bets, lost staggering sums, and kept returning to his employer’s money to cover the damage.
So how did millions of dollars disappear without immediately raising the alarm? And what finally connected the stolen money to an illegal sports betting operation?
The answers emerged through a federal investigation that exposed a betrayal far bigger than anyone initially imagined.
Watch until the end to discover how the scheme unraveled, how the truth came to light, and what consequences followed for the man who had once been trusted to speak on one of baseball’s greatest stars’ behalf.
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