Ohtani - Gambling/Fraud

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Ope3

Ope3

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Ope3 said:
Granted we need to let the investigation play out. Having said that, I am quite skeptical of the narrative Ohtani's legal team putting forth.

www.cbssports.com

Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal explained: Everything we know as Ippei Mizuhara pleads guilty to bank fraud

MLB has cleared Ohtani of any wrongdoing
www.cbssports.com www.cbssports.com

Sounds like a Mickelson type of addiction, for someone.
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It could get very ugly for Ohtani. The guy changing his story overnight after meeting with Ohtani's reps/attorneys is worrisome. It reeks of them asking the interpreter to fall on the grenade, take all of the blame and "we'll make sure you're taken care of financially" for the rest of his life. How did he have access to Ohtani's banking info and why didn't his accounting firm ever ask questions about the multiple large debit transactions labeled as "Loan"?
 

Slim Tubby said:
It could get very ugly for Ohtani. The guy changing his story overnight after meeting with Ohtani's reps/attorneys is worrisome. It reeks of them asking the interpreter to fall on the grenade, take all of the blame and "we'll make sure you're taken care of financially" for the rest of his life. How did he have access to Ohtani's banking info and why didn't his accounting firm ever ask questions about the multiple large debit transactions labeled as "Loan"?
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Not only would it be weird to have the banking info, but to then have the ability to wire that kind of money.
 

Slim Tubby said:
It could get very ugly for Ohtani. The guy changing his story overnight after meeting with Ohtani's reps/attorneys is worrisome. It reeks of them asking the interpreter to fall on the grenade, take all of the blame and "we'll make sure you're taken care of financially" for the rest of his life. How did he have access to Ohtani's banking info and why didn't his accounting firm ever ask questions about the multiple large debit transactions labeled as "Loan"?
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I predict that before long we hear that Ohtani is retiring from baseball to pursue a new challenge. Shortly thereafter, he will sign with the Birmingham Squadron in the G League.
 



The theory I've heard that makes the most sense is Ohtani paid off this guy's debts, not realizing he was committing a federal crime while doing so, and the attorneys rushed to change the story to have the interpreter take the fall.
 

Ask the Biden's what to do!
 

I know Ohtani makes a butt-load of money - but you would think someone - a business manager, agent, someone would notice $4.5-million in fund transfers.

and I'm sorry - but if a friend of mine said "Hey, I just blew $4.5-million on gambling - can you cover my losses?", I would tell him to get lost.

every player in baseball knows - or should know - that you cannot be associated with illegal gambling.

so does MLB try to protect one of the biggest stars in the game.............? Do bears crap in the woods?
 

Gophers1992 said:
The theory I've heard that makes the most sense is Ohtani paid off this guy's debts, not realizing he was committing a federal crime while doing so, and the attorneys rushed to change the story to have the interpreter take the fall.
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That makes some sense. I'm not sure what kind of legal trouble Ohtani would be in if that is the case?
 




GophersInIowa said:
That makes some sense. I'm not sure what kind of legal trouble Ohtani would be in if that is the case?
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He could potentially be charged with laundering, wire fraud, and aiding and abetting a criminal enterprise. The gambling ring that he sent money to was operating illegally. I don't think there is any chance they would pursue those charges.

I think the bigger issue is with the MLB. Paying off the gambling debt of other people could be treated the same as paying off your own gambling debt.

The thing is just fishy. Why would a gambling ring extend a $4.5 million credit to an interpreter? Why would Ohtani's name be all over the transactions? I think the real reason they are going with the theft story (if it isn't true) is because of the impending MLB scrutiny.
 
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Bob_Loblaw said:
He could potentially be charged with laundering, wire fraud, and aiding and abetting a criminal enterprise. The gambling ring that he sent money to was operating illegally. I don't think there is any chance they would pursue those charges.

I think the bigger issue is with the MLB. Paying off the gambling debt of other people could be treated the same as paying off your own gambling debt.

The thing is just fishy. Why would a gambling ring extend a $4.5 million debt to an interpreter? Why would Ohtani's name be all over the transactions? I think the real reason they are going with the theft story (if it isn't true) is because of the impending MLB scrutiny.
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Hypothetically, if he did not know it was illegal, could he still be in big trouble legally?
 

GophersInIowa said:
Hypothetically, if he did not know it was illegal, could he still be in big trouble legally?
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Willfully blind is not a defense.

I reserve the right to reverse course on the conclusion I am jumping to, but I have to think Ohtani placed some or a large part of the wagers.

I'm not sure what the Japanese translation is for "fall guy".
 



I was rather upset with Ohtani's Press Conference today, because ESPN2 preempted the episode of Pardon the Interruption I was DVRing to show it live.
 

Ope3 said:
Willfully blind is not a defense.

I reserve the right to reverse course on the conclusion I am jumping to, but I have to think Ohtani placed some or a large part of the wagers.

I'm not sure what the Japanese translation is for "fall guy".
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Fall Guy theme song! Let’s go! I’m not the type to kiss and tell but
 



Who hasn't run up $4.5M in illegal gambling debts on a salary of $85K/year? The only questions are whether Ohtani bet on baseball games and whether or not MLB really wants to know the answer to the aforementioned question.

I wonder if the Dodgers can void Ohtani's contract if he is suspended or expelled from the game.
 

Gophers1992 said:
The theory I've heard that makes the most sense is Ohtani paid off this guy's debts, not realizing he was committing a federal crime while doing so, and the attorneys rushed to change the story to have the interpreter take the fall.
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He must really like this guy?? Married to his sister or something?
 

jamiche said:
The only questions are whether Ohtani bet on baseball games and whether or not MLB really wants to know the answer to the aforementioned question.
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I mean, if he bet on himself to win, is that really that big a deal??
 



Similarly, if you bet on your own prop bet ... but only for a positive thing (eg. that this guy will have more than 40pts through 3 quarters, or something like that).

I can't see how things like that are a problem.


Obviously the big worry is altering the game in a negative way that is the thing.
 

MplsGopher said:
Obviously the big worry is altering the game in a negative way that is the thing.
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There are several ways this is a negative thing.

- Insider information. He may know one of his teammates is already hurt, thus altering the market, which would be favorable to those he is betting with (illegal bookmakers). Each time Pete Rose bet on a game he was managing, sure he bet on the Reds. There were games though for whatever reason, he did not bet on the game at all, knowing they were at a disadvantage. Bookies would load up on the opposition when that happened.

- In a game he bet heavily on himself, it may cause him to react or play in a different way which may influence performance in subsequent games (especially as a pitcher).

- Irrational decisions could even be as basic as "I know this is a low percentage play to score from 3rd on a pop-up to shallow left field, but I have to win this bet, so I will try to score."
 

Ope3 said:
- Insider information. He may know one of his teammates is already hurt, thus altering the market, which would be favorable to those he is betting with (illegal bookmakers). Each time Pete Rose bet on a game he was managing, sure he bet on the Reds. There were games though for whatever reason, he did not bet on the game at all, knowing they were at a disadvantage. Bookies would load up on the opposition when that happened.
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Meh, pretty weak

Ope3 said:
- In a game he bet heavily on himself, it may cause him to react or play in a different way which may influence performance in subsequent games (especially as a pitcher).
- Irrational decisions could even be as basic as "I know this is a low percentage play to score from 3rd on a pop-up to shallow left field, but I have to win this bet, so I will try to score."
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Doesn't hold water unless it's a very specific prop bet like "will pitch 9 innings" or "will score X runs".

If it's just "will win this game", then you'll do everything exactly that you think will win the game.


Overall, pretty massive reaches to try to get to the conclusion you want for your own ideology. I am not convinced
 

MplsGopher said:
Meh, pretty weak


Doesn't hold water unless it's a very specific prop bet like "will pitch 9 innings" or "will score X runs".

If it's just "will win this game", then you'll do everything exactly that you think will win the game.


Overall, pretty massive reaches to try to get to the conclusion you want for your own ideology. I am not convinced
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You are ill informed.
 



MplsGopher said:
I have the same information you do.

Your ideology is inferior
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Mine the same ideology that the 4 Major North American pro-sports leagues to subscribe to.
 

again - IF we believe the new version of events from Ohtani, that does not explain how his translator was able to access Ohtani's financial accounts and make transfers totaling $4.5-million - without anyone noticing.

I get pop-up alerts on my phone whenever a new charge is made on my credit card - like the regular monthly charge for my Disney+ account. But Ohtani - and whoever is managing his money - has no idea that someone is making millions of dollars in transfers? that just doesn't seem plausible.

and - there is not an illegal bookie in the world that would let a customer run up that kind of debt. the customer would - at the least - not be allowed to place new bets until he paid off his tab.

---
to MPLS - every player in baseball - at every level - knows that the #1 rule is You Do Not Bet on Baseball. anyone stupid enough to violate that rule deserves to be kicked out of the game. Players are allowed to bet on other sports. so Ohtani could go to a Casino or sports book and bet on the NFL or NBA. But you cannot bet on baseball. and you cannot place bets of any kind with an illegal bookie. Rules are rules. you violate the rules and you face consequences.
 

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