Shohei Ohtani, the renowned baseball sensation fresh off his victorious World Series journey and a National League MVP season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has recently taken legal action to retrieve baseball cards valued at $325,000. These prized possessions were fraudulently obtained by his former interpreter and trusted confidant, Ippei Mizuhara, who earlier pleaded guilty to swindling nearly $17 million from Ohtani.
In an attempt to reclaim what rightfully belongs to him, Ohtani has formally appealed to a federal judge at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The court has granted a hearing on the matter, scheduled to take place on December 20.
The crux of the fraud traces back to Mizuhara’s admission of bank and tax fraud earlier this year, admitting to exploiting Ohtani’s trust by siphoning off millions from his accounts. Mizuhara’s modus operandi between January and March of 2024 involved utilizing Ohtani’s funds to purchase baseball cards through platforms like eBay and Whatnot, with the intention of leveraging them for financial gain. Ohtani is adamant that these cards were procured using his money and thus rightfully his.
In a surprising twist, Ohtani informed the court of the discovery of “a quantity of personally signed collectible baseball cards” bearing his likeness among Mizuhara’s possessions. These erroneously seized items are also included in Ohtani’s petition for return.
The inventory of the seized items includes a variety of collectible sports cards stored in distinctive Panopply cases, a box containing additional collectible sports cards, a card wrapping device, and plastic card protector holders. The meticulous detail provided in the court filings paints a clear picture of the valuable items embroiled in the legal tussle.
Mizuhara’s downfall came about through illicit access to Ohtani’s financial accounts, leading to his termination by the Dodgers once his fraudulent activities came to light. Originally slated for sentencing on October 25, the date was subsequently pushed to December 20 and has now faced another delay, moving to January 24.
The upcoming hearing on December 20 will be pivotal in determining whether Ohtani can successfully secure possession of the seized sports cards. This legal development represents another chapter in the aftermath of Mizuhara’s breach of trust with one of baseball’s brightest stars, showcasing the complexities and consequences of betrayal in professional sports.
