Tisha Thompson

Everybody has a story & I'm ready to listen • Investigative Reporter for ESPN

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

NEW: Go on the "zig-zagging, 48-journey" with me as we go behind the scenes on how the #Ohtani & #Ippei story rapidly evolved this week. We have more details on what we asked and what Mizuhara and others said in response in our continuing investigation. https://t.co/Fba0a9rcnt

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

Journalist Anna Wolfe won a Pulitzer for her stories about federal welfare money, including some that went to fund ventures by Brett Favre. She now could face jail time for refusing to give up her sources for the stories. The latest from ⁦@markfwespn⁩ https://t.co/A9pD5KHOfj

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

Calvin Dickey Jr. died in July after collapsing during his first workout at Bucknell. Doctors said he collapsed from sickle cell-related rhabdomyolysis, a medical condition experts told ESPN is easily prevented, and even reversed, by stopping exercise. https://t.co/aJ1BSVWpv6

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

Matt Bowyer - the bookie for Ippei Mizuhara (Ohtani’s former interpreter) - just pleaded guilty to three charges in a federal court today. To read details of the case against him (and Mizuhara) and how he got here, read our full report here: https://t.co/cKUD0fNVor

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

Mathew Bowyer, the SoCal bookie at the center of the Ippei Mizuhara case, will plead guilty on Aug. 9th to operating an unlawful gambling business, money laundering and filing a false tax return, according to court documents unsealed today. The judge assigned to the case is the same judge that will sentence Mizuhara for stealing more than $16 million from Shohei Ohtani's bank account in an attempt to pay off gambling debts to Bowyer's bookmaking business. Full story with the details can be found here: https://t.co/BjOZ2MDKwE

[Jeff Passan @JeffPassan]

News: Umpire Pat Hoberg, famous for the World Series game in which he didn't miss a ball-and-strike call, has been disciplined by Major League Baseball for violating its gambling policy. Hoberg is appealing the ruling. Details, free and unlocked at ESPN: https://t.co/gIne9RSJzt

[Alden González @Alden_Gonzalez]

Ippei Mizuhara is not a U.S. citizen and faces “significant immigration consequences,” including “a risk of deportation,” US attorney Martin Estrada said. Any consequences, however, wouldn’t apply until after he completes his sentencing.

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

My colleague @Alden_Gonzalez was in the courtroom today and reports Ippei Mizuhara told the judge, "I worked for Victim A and I had access to his bank account and I had fallen into major gambling debt, and the only way that I could think of was to use his money. I had access to Bank A. So I went ahead and wired money for my gambling debt with his bank account." Alden's full story: https://t.co/nf0dkBCQsf

[Alden González @Alden_Gonzalez]

A statement from Shohei Ohtani, through a spokesperson …

[Alden González @Alden_Gonzalez]

NEWS: Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s former and longtime interpreter, pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud charges during a change-of-plea hearing in federal court this morning.

Total maximum sentence: 33 years.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 25 at 2 pm PT.

[Jeff Passan @JeffPassan]

San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is facing a potential lifetime ban for betting on baseball, sources tell ESPN.

While Major League Baseball's investigation into Marcano is not complete, a penalty, as @lindseyadler and @jareddiamond reported, could be imminent.

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

“MLB opened an investigation Monday into allegations that former Los Angeles Angels infielder David Fletcher gambled with an illegal bookie, an MLB source told ESPN, but investigators face a significant hurdle at the start -- where they're going to get evidence.” More from my colleague @TJQuinnESPN here: https://t.co/o3ysor1NbY

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

David Fletcher was Ohtani's teammate from 2018-2023 and has been described as one of Ohtani's closest friends in baseball. According to sources, Fletcher placed bets with the bookmaking operation of Mathew Bowyer, also known as “Bookmaker 1” in the criminal complaint against Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s former interpreter accused of stealing $17 mil from the MLB superstar to pay back gambling debts owed to Bowyer. Full story here: https://t.co/xpujtIvBm4

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

David Fletcher, a former Los Angeles Angels infielder currently with the Atlanta Braves' Triple-A affiliate, bet on sports with the same Southern California bookmaker who took wagers from Shohei Ohtani's longtime interpreter, according to multiple sources detailing the activities. Read our newest ESPN investigation: https://t.co/xpujtIvBm4

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

David Fletcher's close friend, Colby Schultz, who played in the Kansas City Royals' system from 2018 to 2020, placed bets on baseball, including on Angels' games that Fletcher played in while he was on the team, multiple sources told ESPN. Full story here: https://t.co/N4Scx8Mi1t

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara trying to exit the federal court building in downtown Los Angeles after his arraignment hearing today.

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

The scene outside the federal courthouse in LA as Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara & his attorney leave Mizuhara’s arraignment hearing. Mizuhara pleaded “not guilty” today as part of court procedure but his attorney told the judge Mizuhara will be pleading guilty

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

Neither Mizuhara, his attorney Michael Freedman nor Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Mitchell made a comment after the hearing.

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

Just got out of federal court where Scott Sibella, the former president of MGM Grand and World Resorts Las Vegas, received 12 months probation, a $9500 fine and 200 hrs community service. Here’s our story with more on Sibella: https://t.co/gVhBCPGeNJ

[Tisha Thompson @TishaESPN]

Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has agreed to plead guilty to felony bank fraud and submitting a false tax return https://t.co/QQGCW7sxRw