Ohtani Guilt-O-Meter

[dodgerfanjohn]

Originally Posted by kordell1

I don’t care what happened and that was my first post in this thread so not sure where I’m digging in or wrong. Just stating that a decent accountant is not going to ignore all those red flags. My father has been a CPA for 50+ years. He would have immediately reached out directly to Shohei with his own interpreter(not Shohei’s) to express concerns and if he wasn’t able to talk to him, the next step would be reaching out to his lawyer/agent with concerns about his interpreter possibly taking money from this “private account”. These are my dad’s words as an accountant. I have no idea what actually took place and honestly don’t care. I just found that claim amusing because it’s almost impossible that it happened that way unless his accountant is terrible at his job.

You’d be surprised. I had responsibility earlier in my career for clearing out the things of an employee who retired a year prior and never came to pick up his stuff. He left behind copies of state and federal tax returns as well as a letter from his divorce attorney stating that the attorneys office had been trying to reach him for weeks via letter, phone, email, and visits to his residence with no success and pleading with the guy to contact them…literally begging the guy. Like the letter actually stated “ you are compensating me to represent your best interests and I’m trying very hard to do so but without contact with you, I am unable to do so. Please contact me as soon as you receive this.”

Not that Shohei was intentionally out of contact, but if the accountant only has Ippei as a contact….

[kordell1]

Originally Posted by Chris P

It's really not worth wasting your breath. Nothing is gonna convince these guys that this is nothing but a massive conspiracy because heaven forbid they be wrong on something. Ohtani will forever be a villain in most of their eyes and there's nothing anybody can do to change that here.

Can you point out where I’ve said or done any of that? I’m pretty sure that was my first post ever in regards to anything about Ohtani and simply found that particular claim by the interpreter to seem silly. You guys get so defensive/emotional about a person you don’t even know it’s actually pretty amusing. 😂

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by kordell1

Can you point out where I’ve said or done any of that? I’m pretty sure that was my first post ever in regards to anything about Ohtani and simply found that particular claim by the interpreter to seem silly. You guys get so defensive/emotional about a person you don’t even know it’s actually pretty amusing.

The point is that this has been discussed to death. You aren't the first to call the claim silly. But it doesn't matter what you think is silly. It's just a fact. Silly or not. People do silly things all the time. Its silliness has no bearing on whether it's true. So the litany of people coming into this thread claiming it's not true because it's silly gets really tiring.

[kordell1]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

The point is that this has been discussed to death. You aren't the first to call the claim silly. But it doesn't matter what you think is silly. It's just a fact. Silly or not. People do silly things all the time. Its silliness has no bearing on whether it's true. So the litany of people coming into this thread claiming it's not true because it's silly gets really tiring.

Again, I don’t know or care what happened. I just don’t think that claim by the interpreter is factual. Remember, this is a guy that allegedly stole millions of dollars from his friend and had a terrible gambling problem. Is there a possibility that maybe some of what he is claiming is actually not factual? You are claiming something as a fact based on the word of the guy who apparently did a lot of dishonest stuff, no?
Maybe there are some accountants on here that can chime in on that one particular point I find to be questionable.
The accountant asked Ippei about an account, was told Shohei wanted that account private, and then when he tried to meet with Shohei to discuss it, only Ippei showed up and the accountant didn’t see any red flags or investigate further? Just doesn’t add up but who knows. Maybe his accountant is just terrible at their job.

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by kordell1

Can you point out where I’ve said or done any of that? I’m pretty sure that was my first post ever in regards to anything about Ohtani and simply found that particular claim by the interpreter to seem silly. You guys get so defensive/emotional about a person you don’t even know it’s actually pretty amusing. ��

Im not defense or emotional..im just pointing out what I'm seeing. I've always been on the idea that ohtani didn't do anything wrong but was open to see how it was gonna play out. A lot of people here that don't believe ohtani made up their mind right away and they aren't changing it. That's a fact and it's showing here. They were always gonna fall back on the cover up conspiracy so why bother wasting time arguing with any of them? It's pointless.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by kordell1

Again, I don’t know or care what happened. I just don’t think that claim by the interpreter is factual. Remember, this is a guy that allegedly stole millions of dollars from his friend and had a terrible gambling problem. Is there a possibility that maybe some of what he is claiming is actually not factual? You are claiming something as a fact based on the word of the guy who apparently did a lot of dishonest stuff, no?

Maybe there are some accountants on here that can chime in on that one particular point I find to be questionable.

The accountant asked Ippei about an account, was told Shohei wanted that account private, and then when he tried to meet with Shohei to discuss it, only Ippei showed up and the accountant didn’t see any red flags or investigate further? Just doesn’t add up but who knows. Maybe his accountant is just terrible at their job.

The federal investigation has confirmed the facts. So again, it doesn't matter what you think is factual. Nothing I am saying is based on the word of Ippei.

[kordell1]

Originally Posted by cbeauch87

Read the report dude. Every single detail is in it.

Ippei changed the settings on the account so that Shohei wouldn't receive notifications about withdrawals. Shohei's accountant DID ask Ippei for access to the account so he could have all the required details for filing taxes, and Ippei told him "Shohei wants that account private." His accountant even set up a meeting with the two of them, but only Ippei showed up. He told the accountant "Shohei is sick."

37-pages. It answers every single question you have. I promise.

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

The federal investigation has confirmed the facts. So again, it doesn't matter what you think is factual. Nothing I am saying is based on the word of Ippei.

This is what I originally responded to. The claims stated by Ippei. I said any decent accountant would have seen red flags and tried to contact someone other than Ippei. Not sure why that is such a stretch to think Ippei(on that point) didn't give full accurate information to the investigators.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by kordell1

This is what I originally responded to. The claims stated by Ippei. I said any decent accountant would have seen red flags and tried to contact someone other than Ippei. Not sure why that is such a stretch to think Ippei(on that point) didn't give full accurate information to the investigators.

Yes, federal investigators typically just take the word of criminals without any verification.

We all understand a lot of mistakes were made. But that doesn't make it any less true.

[kordell1]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Yes, federal investigators typically just take the word of criminals without any verification.

We all understand a lot of mistakes were made. But that doesn't make it any less true.

If it’s accurate, might be time for him to shop for some new accountants. 👍

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by kordell1

If it’s accurate, might be time for him to shop for some new accountants.

I mean, given all that's happened, he needs to reevaluate his entire financial system. Unfortunately, most people don't realize that until it's too late. But it's not the first time an athlete has been too trusting and naive with his camp and been taken advantage of, and it won't be the last. We give people of otherwise average or below average means millions of dollars. They have no choice but to rely on others to manage it. Which makes them vulnerable. In this case, Ohtani needed a translator for everything and made him his most trusted person. Which can cause problems down the line with other advisors and accountants. It was a recipe for disaster. But one it's hard to see coming when you trust him implicitly.

[fabiani12333]

I can't believe people still think Ohtani is a stealth degen.

His interpreter called his bank pretending to be him so he could steal his money -- how is it not clear that Ohtani is the victim of a long-term scam?

[cbeauch87]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

I can't believe people still think Ohtani is a stealth degen.

His interpreter called his bank pretending to be him so he could steal his money -- how is it not clear that Ohtani is the victim of a long-term scam?

There is a subset of people who never want to believe anything at face value, if it's not something they agree with. Across all subjects. And it is essentially impossible to change their mind.

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by cbeauch87

There is a subset of people who never want to believe anything at face value, if it's not something they agree with. Across all subjects. And it is essentially impossible to change their mind.

Bingo..admitting your wrong just cant happen for some people.

[JWBlue]

Originally Posted by kordell1

An accountant being okay with not having access to all finances and taking an interpreter’s word on it without speaking directly to his client is pretty laughable. Did Shohei find his accountant through Saul Goodman? ��

It is nuts isn't it?

I totally believe Sho is innocent but at the same time there are holes in the story I can't patch.

I guess it is plausible the CPA had all the income information which is all he really needs.

[Lonewolf]

Can the poll be modified to add another option? Something like: "Ohtani bad, Dodgers bad, hurr durr, I don't understand how the justice system works!" OR maybe "Ohtani bad, Dodgers bad, hurr durr, I am incapable of changing my position in light of new, substantiated information."

[johnlocke36]

Originally Posted by cbeauch87

Laughable or not, that's what happened. Shohei gave his phone to the FBI to look at. 9,700 pages of text messages between Shohei and Ippei. Not one mention of gambling or that bank account.

You don't have to keep digging in. It's ok to admit you were wrong.

While I’m not saying this this the case, hypothetically if Ohtnai wanted to fire 9 figures in spots, don’t think someone might say hey here’s a free phone so you don’t have to use personal one?

[cbeauch87]

Originally Posted by johnlocke36

While I’m not saying this this the case, hypothetically if Ohtnai wanted to fire 9 figures in spots, don’t think someone might say hey here’s a free phone so you don’t have to use personal one?

No sense in talking about nonsense like that. Ohtani had nothing to do with the scandal and it's a closed case.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by johnlocke36

While I’m not saying this this the case, hypothetically if Ohtnai wanted to fire 9 figures in spots, don’t think someone might say hey here’s a free phone so you don’t have to use personal one?

Have you seen the celebrite data on a phone dump in a criminal investigation? It's blatantly obvious when a phone is a burner phone or the phone the person actually uses as their personal phone. They would have no trouble tracking the bets in their investigation and cross-referencing them with Ohtani's phone and Ippei's phone and the bookie's records (all of which I guarantee the feds have subpoenaed). So they will clearly know if a burner phone is missing. You are trying too hard to find excuses. But investigations are more thorough than you seem to understand.

[blackbears86]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Have you seen the celebrite data on a phone dump in a criminal investigation? It's blatantly obvious when a phone is a burner phone or the phone the person actually uses as their personal phone. They would have no trouble tracking the bets in their investigation and cross-referencing them with Ohtani's phone and Ippei's phone and the bookie's records (all of which I guarantee the feds have subpoenaed). So they will clearly know if a burner phone is missing. You are trying too hard to find excuses. But investigations are more thorough than you seem to understand.

You are making a lot of assumptions here.

There have been PLENTY of federal investigations that have been botched over the years and plenty that haven't been thorough.


I'm not saying Ohtani is guilty, but that was a fast investigation---rocket fast. When investigations drag on for months, years even, this was closed amazingly quick, almost too quick. Kind of funny how that isn't being commented on, especially in a complex case like this involving millions of dollars.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by blackbears86

[/B]





You are making a lot of assumptions here.



There have been PLENTY of federal investigations that have been botched over the years and plenty that haven't been thorough.





I'm not saying Ohtani is guilty, but that was a fast investigation---rocket fast. When investigations drag on for months, years even, this was closed amazingly quick, almost too quick. Kind of funny how that isn't being commented on.

This investigation has been going on long before the news about Ohtani hit.

[cbeauch87]

Originally Posted by blackbears86

[/B]


You are making a lot of assumptions here.

There have been PLENTY of federal investigations that have been botched over the years and plenty that haven't been thorough.


I'm not saying Ohtani is guilty, but that was a fast investigation---rocket fast. When investigations drag on for months, years even, this was closed amazingly quick, almost too quick. Kind of funny how that isn't being commented on.

It was quick because everyone cooperated. Plus, there was already an investigation into the bookie, which is how this whole thing got connected to Shohei.

Ippei didn't hide anything once the investigation started, he turned over his phone and computer immediately. Shohei met with investigators a few days after they got back from Korea and gave them his phone to look through.

They poured through 10,000+ pages of texts between Ippei and Shohei and Ippei and the bookie. There was almost certainly a team of people assigned to work on this case basically non-stop until they were done.

It's not that deep. There's no conspiracy. No matter how badly you want there to be one, there isn't.

[blackbears86]

Originally Posted by cbeauch87

No sense in talking about nonsense like that. Ohtani had nothing to do with the scandal and it's a closed case.

a closed case settled in a record time.


Again, not saying he's guilty, but in the US court system that drags on investigations for years and years, this was decided in a matter of days. Interpreter guilty on all counts.


seems off to me.

[blackbears86]

[QUOTE=OhioLawyerF5;19404022]This investigation has been going on long before the news about Ohtani hit.[/QUOTE]



How do we know this?



Do we know how many people investigated the case?

Will a report ever be released for examination by the public?

[cbeauch87]

Originally Posted by blackbears86

[/B]


a closed case settled in a record time.


Again, not saying he's guilty, but in the US court system that drags on investigations for years and years, this was decided in a matter of days. Interpreter guilty on all counts.


seems off to me.

Because Ippei admitted to it. He's not trying to hide behind anything or plead not guilty.

The last excerpt from the 37-page report the FBI put out:

"I mean, technically I did steal from him. It's all over for me." - a text Ippei sent to the bookie just before the story initially broke.

Read the report. If you read that report and still think there's more to it than what it says, then you're hopeless.

https://www.documentcloud.org/docume...hara-complaint

[Trueblue]

Originally Posted by blackbears86

[/B]





a closed case settled in a record time.





Again, not saying he's guilty, but in the US court system that drags on investigations for years and years, this was decided in a matter of days. Interpreter guilty on all counts.





seems off to me.

Given the unusual abundance of transparent information they were provided, what area would you have liked them to spend another 6 months investigating?