Shohei Ohtani, the MLB sensation who recently achieved a triumphant World Series win and earned the coveted National League MVP title with the Los Angeles Dodgers, finds himself embroiled in a legal battle to reclaim baseball cards valued at $325,000. These cards were fraudulently obtained by his former interpreter and close associate, Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara, accused of siphoning nearly $17 million from Ohtani, pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of bank and tax fraud.
On Tuesday, Ohtani took his case to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, filing a petition to assert ownership over the sports cards that had been confiscated from Mizuhara by the authorities. A hearing to discuss this matter has been scheduled for December 20.
The backstory behind this fraudulent scheme reveals Mizuhara’s illicit activities that took place between January and March 2024. During this period, Mizuhara utilized Ohtani’s finances to make purchases of baseball cards from various platforms like eBay and Whatnot, with the intention of reselling them at a profit. Ohtani contends that these cards were procured using his funds and, therefore, rightfully belong to him.
In a compelling argument to the court, Ohtani highlighted the discovery of “a quantity of personally signed collectible baseball cards” bearing his likeness among the possessions confiscated from Mizuhara. Ohtani is requesting the return of these specific items as part of his petition to reclaim his property.
The items seized by authorities, as detailed in court documents, comprise collectible sports cards stored in silver and black Panopply cases, collectible sports cards stored in gray Panopply cases, a box containing additional collectible sports cards, a card wrapping device, and plastic card protector holders.
Mizuhara’s downfall came as a result of his unauthorized access to Ohtani’s bank account, leading to significant financial losses for the baseball star. The Dodgers terminated Mizuhara’s employment in March after his fraudulent actions came to light. Initially scheduled for sentencing on October 25 and later postponed to December 20, Mizuhara’s sentencing has been further delayed to January 24.
The awaited hearing on December 20 will be crucial in determining whether Ohtani can successfully retrieve ownership of the seized sports cards. This legal proceeding represents a significant moment in the aftermath of Mizuhara’s betrayal of the trust that Ohtani had placed in him, showcasing the ripple effects of deception in the world of one of baseball’s brightest talents.
