SAN DIEGO, March 27, 2025 — The world of professional sports was recently rocked by the sentencing of Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara was convicted of embezzling approximately $17 million from Ohtani to cover his gambling debts, and with crimes including bank and tax fraud, he was sentenced to nearly five years in prison, along with three years of supervised release.
After pleading guilty, Mizuhara was due to begin his prison sentence on Monday, March 24th, however his surrender date was postponed to an unspecified date in the future. According to Justice Department spokesperson Ciaran McEvoy, the new surrender date and reason for the change will remain under seal until further notice.
In the aftermath of the scandal, some may be left questioning the safeguards in place to ensure accountability and trust in professions that operate behind the scenes, in this case, the world of language services. Mizuhara’s role was more than that of a translator, he was Ohtani’s cultural liaison and confidant who shaped almost every interaction that Shonei had. It is precisely this level of access and responsibility that makes such a breach of trust and misconduct so damaging.
For companies like Interpreters Unlimited (IU), this scandal is not just a cautionary tale, but it’s a moment to emphasize the importance of integrity in the language services industry. Language professionals are often entrusted with sensitive information, high-stakes communication, and privileged access to the lives of their clients. At IU, ensuring that this trust is never misplaced is the foundation of their mission.
Providing complete language solutions in over 200 languages since 1970, IU has the utmost experience and expertise when it comes to linguists and language services. Built on trust and quality for 55 years, IU makes customer experience one of their top priorities. They take rigorous steps to ensure the reliability and trustworthiness of the linguists that they contract with. With complete confidence in their contracted linguists, and their meticulous process of vetting them, IU offers clients a performance guarantee so they can expect the best of the best.
The IU vetting process for qualification in becoming an independently contracted linguist is extensive and stringent, with thorough background checks including relevant memberships and affiliations, prior experience, employment history, criminal background checks and all relevant interpreting certifications. Each candidate’s professional industry ethics and adherence to industry standards is evaluated to find linguists who uphold the highest standards of professionalism, collaboration, and cultural competence.
Technical qualifications, testing, interviews, references and sample work are all a part of the process before a linguist is engaged in any capacity. Linguists also undergo training on the company’s Code of Ethics, emphasizing professionalism, neutrality, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity. IU maintains a zero-tolerance policy for unlawful behavior or misconduct.
Whether working in legal settings, hospitals, schools, government agencies, or sports and entertainment, IU translators are prepared to navigate complex situations with integrity and precision. In addition, IU invests heavily in technology and protocols to protect its clients from potential breaches of security, including encrypted communication platforms and strict adherence to HIPAA compliance standards.
What sets Interpreters Unlimited apart is its unwavering belief that linguists are not just service providers, they are stewards of trust. Unlike the Mizuhara scandal, where a lack of oversight allowed unethical behavior to spiral out of control, IU’s commitment to diligence ensures that clients can depend on their translators, even in the most high-pressure or sensitive situations.
The fallout from Mizuhara’s actions has highlighted the responsibility that linguists bear, particularly when working with high-profile clients. While cases like this are rare, they serve as a reminder of what can go wrong when corners are cut or oversight is lacking. For organizations like Interpreters Unlimited, it reinforces why every translator placed with a client must meet the highest standards, not only in skill but in character. For IU, it is an opportunity to affirm their commitment to ethical excellence and to stand as an example, a trusted leader in the language services industry, setting the standard for integrity and professionalism.
For more information about Interpreters Unlimited use the contact form below or call (800) 726-9891.
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About Interpreters Unlimited, Inc.
The IU Group of companies include: Interpreters Unlimited, Accessible Communication for the Deaf, Albors & Alnet, Arkansas Spanish Interpreters and Translators, and IU GlobeLink, LLC, and are headquartered in San Diego, California as a minority-owned company. IU Group is committed to providing equal opportunity in the work environment with its diverse team to aid in supplying linguistic and cultural interpretation services to clients. A combined 70 years in the industry has demonstrated a surplus of leadership and best practices, which has helped establish its respected role in the language services community. Its services include spoken translation, document translation and non-emergency medical transportation.
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