The world of baseball has taken an unexpected turn as the U.S. government sets its sights on seizing a prized collection of baseball cards owned by Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, the beloved Los Angeles Angels athlete. Mizuhara found himself in hot water after admitting to embezzling a shocking $17 million from the baseball star.
In a bold legal move revealed on Monday, federal prosecutors wasted no time in seeking permission from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to take control of Mizuhara’s impressive collection of baseball cards. The filing also includes a request to confiscate all associated packaging materials and card-protecting gear. Mizuhara, who is scheduled for sentencing in late October, might soon find himself separated from his beloved baseball card treasures.
The stunning revelation sheds light on Mizuhara’s lavish spending spree during the early months of 2024. With a staggering $325,000 of Ohtani’s hard-earned money, Mizuhara indulged in purchasing sought-after baseball cards from popular online platforms such as eBay and Whatnot. The eclectic collection includes cards featuring renowned players like Yogi Berra, Juan Soto, and even a few featuring Ohtani himself, as detailed in Mizuhara’s plea agreement.
As part of the plea bargain, prosecutors are pushing for the forfeiture of these valuable items to serve as part of Mizuhara’s retribution for his actions. Alongside the baseball cards, Mizuhara has also agreed to surrender additional sports memorabilia obtained using Ohtani’s embezzled funds. The plea agreement, finalized in May, led to Mizuhara formally pleading guilty in June to charges of bank and tax fraud.
The saga paints a troubling picture of betrayal, as Mizuhara, aged 39, was not just a professional contact but also a close confidant to Ohtani, offering interpretation services and even handling some managerial duties unofficially since the Japanese athlete joined the Angels in 2018. Over the span of several years, Mizuhara gradually diverted millions from Ohtani’s accounts to settle his gambling debts and fuel his passion for acquiring top-tier baseball collectibles.
The suspense now rests on the upcoming sentencing scheduled for October 25, where the court will deliberate on the forfeiture request to determine the fate of Mizuhara’s ill-gotten gains. Delving deeper into the legal proceedings, the case bears the name United States v. Mizuhara, referencing the Central District of California and filed under the identifiers No. 8:24-cr-00054-JWH on September 16, 2024.
The stakes are high as the courtroom drama unfolds, showcasing the consequences of Mizuhara’s unscrupulous actions and the ripple effects felt throughout the baseball community.
