Shohei Ohtani, the sensational baseball player who recently clinched a World Series victory and secured the National League MVP title with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is now embroiled in a legal battle. Ohtani has decided to reclaim around $325,000 worth of treasured baseball cards that were deceitfully procured by his once-trusted interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara, who has already pled guilty to swindling Ohtani out of nearly $17 million, now faces the repercussions of his actions.
In a recent development, Ohtani has formally petitioned a federal judge at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to regain ownership of the confiscated sports cards that were taken from Mizuhara by law enforcement authorities. A hearing has been scheduled for December 20, where the fate of the baseball cards will be deliberated upon.
Mizuhara’s fraudulent activities came to light in June when he confessed to committing bank and tax fraud, admitting to the elaborate scheme that resulted in the misappropriation of millions from Ohtani. Over a span of just a few months between January and March 2024, Mizuhara utilized funds from Ohtani’s account to make purchases of baseball cards through various online platforms like eBay and Whatnot, all with the intention of selling them for a profit. Ohtani vehemently asserts that the cards were procured using his finances and thus rightfully belong to him.
Moreover, Ohtani also revealed to the court that a collection of personally autographed baseball cards featuring his image was among the items found in Mizuhara’s possession and wrongly seized. As part of his appeal, Ohtani is seeking the return of these signature collectibles.
The inventory of the confiscated items, as detailed in the court documents, includes various types of sports cards stored in distinctive Panopply cases, along with additional cards in a separate box. The collection also comprised a device for wrapping cards, as well as plastic protectors used for card storage.
Mizuhara’s fraudulent actions primarily revolved around illicitly accessing Ohtani’s bank accounts, which ultimately led to his downfall. Upon the revelation of his fraudulent activities, the Dodgers promptly terminated Mizuhara’s employment in March. Originally slated for sentencing on October 25 and then rescheduled for December 20, the sentencing proceedings have now been postponed once more to January 24.
The forthcoming hearing on December 20 will play a pivotal role in deciding whether Ohtani can rightfully reclaim ownership of the seized sports cards. This legal step not only signifies Ohtani’s pursuit of justice but also serves as a consequential chapter in the aftermath of Mizuhara’s profound betrayal of the trust placed in him by one of baseball’s standout figures.
