Former Japanese professional baseball player Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter accused of fraud in fabricated phone call.

[Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Anthony Izzo, allegedly impersonated the Los Angeles Angels star in a phone call to defraud a business partner out of $100,000. According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, Izzo made the call in 2019, claiming to be Ohtani and convincing the partner to transfer the funds to a bank account controlled by Izzo. The partner reportedly believed the call was legitimate because Izzo had previously worked as Ohtani’s interpreter and had access to the player’s schedule and personal information. The incident was not publicly disclosed until recently, when the partner discovered the fraud and reported it to the authorities. Izzo has since been charged with grand theft and identity theft, and is facing up to five years in prison if convicted.



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