Shohei Ohtani, the baseball sensation fresh off a World Series triumph and a National League MVP season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is embroiled in a legal tussle to retrieve baseball cards worth $325,000 that were fraudulently purchased by his former interpreter and close associate, Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara, who had previously pleaded guilty to defrauding Ohtani of almost $17 million, is at the center of this dispute that has now reached the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Ohtani’s plea to reclaim ownership of the sports cards seized from Mizuhara by authorities was filed on Tuesday, with a scheduled hearing on the matter set for December 20. The background of this fraud unravels a tale of deceit and betrayal that shook the baseball world earlier this year.
Ippei Mizuhara, in a stunning confession in June, admitted to bank and tax fraud, detailing his scheme of siphoning millions from Ohtani’s finances. Over the span of January to March 2024, Mizuhara utilized Ohtani’s funds to acquire baseball cards through online platforms like eBay and Whatnot, with the intention to flip them for profit. Ohtani strongly maintains that these cards were bought using his money and, therefore, rightfully belong to him.
Further complicating the matter, Ohtani informed the court about the discovery of “a quantity of personally signed collectible baseball cards” featuring his likeness among Mizuhara’s belongings, which were erroneously confiscated. As part of his petition, Ohtani is requesting the return of these specific items as well.
The seized items are detailed in court records as collectible sports cards housed in silver and black Panoply cases, gray Panoply cases, a box containing additional collectible sports cards, a card wrapping device, and plastic card protector holders. These items are at the core of the legal battle between Ohtani and Mizuhara.
Mizuhara’s downfall came as a result of his unauthorized access to Ohtani’s bank account, which ultimately led to his dismissal from the Dodgers in March once his fraudulent activities came to light. Initially scheduled for sentencing on October 25 and later postponed to December 20, Mizuhara’s hearing date has once again been pushed back, this time to January 24.
The upcoming hearing on December 20 will play a pivotal role in determining whether Ohtani can secure ownership of the seized sports cards, marking a significant step in the ongoing fallout from Mizuhara’s breach of trust with one of baseball’s marquee players. This legal showdown promises to shed more light on the intricate web of deception and consequences stemming from Mizuhara’s actions.
