Shohei Ohtani, the baseball sensation who recently clinched a World Series win and National League MVP title with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is now embroiled in a legal battle to reclaim $325,000 worth of baseball cards that were unlawfully obtained by his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara, who had already pleaded guilty to defrauding Ohtani of approximately $17 million, is now facing another challenge as Ohtani takes legal action to regain what is rightfully his.
In a move to retrieve the valuable sports cards, Ohtani has submitted a petition to a federal judge at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. This petition aims to establish Ohtani’s ownership of the seized baseball cards that were fraudulently purchased by Mizuhara. A hearing has been scheduled for December 20 to address this contentious issue and potentially grant Ohtani the justice he seeks.
The backstory behind the fraud scheme implicates Mizuhara in a case of bank and tax fraud, where he admitted to embezzling millions from Ohtani. Mizuhara’s deceptive actions unfolded between January and March 2024 when he misused Ohtani’s funds to buy baseball cards from online platforms like eBay and Whatnot, all with the intention of turning a profit. Ohtani categorically asserts that these cards were bought using his money and therefore rightfully belong to him.
Furthermore, Ohtani has also disclosed to the court the existence of “a quantity of personally signed collectible baseball cards” featuring his likeness that were discovered in Mizuhara’s possession and wrongly seized. As part of his legal petition, Ohtani is requesting the return of these signed collectibles, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal dispute.
Court documents provide a detailed inventory of the seized items, which consist of collectible sports cards stored in silver and black Panopply cases, as well as grey Panopply cases. Additionally, a box containing more collectible sports cards, a card wrapping device, and plastic card protector holders were also among the confiscated items.
Mizuhara’s downfall came as a result of his unauthorized access to Ohtani’s bank account, a breach of trust that led to his termination from the Dodgers in March once his fraudulent actions came to light. Originally set for sentencing on October 25, which was later rescheduled to December 20, Mizuhara’s fate is now awaiting a final decision on January 24.
Looking ahead, the pivotal hearing on December 20 will determine whether Ohtani can successfully reclaim ownership of the seized sports cards, marking a significant step in the aftermath of Mizuhara’s betrayal of Ohtani’s trust and the subsequent legal battle that has ensued.
