Baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani is seeking the return of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of baseball cards from his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, alleging they were purchased using his funds fraudulently. The Los Angeles Dodgers ace is also demanding the return of signed collectible cards depicting Ohtani that were in Mizuhara’s “unauthorized and wrongful possession,” as per court documents filed on Tuesday.
The legal filing accuses Mizuhara of accessing Ohtani’s bank account starting around November 2021, altering security protocols to impersonate him and authorize wire transfers. By 2024, Mizuhara had allegedly spent approximately $325,000 on baseball cards through online platforms eBay and Whatnot.
Mizuhara’s attorney, Michael G Freedman, has declined to comment on the recent filing. Mizuhara previously pleaded guilty in June to misappropriating millions from Ohtani’s Arizona bank account to cover gambling debts, personal medical expenses, and the aforementioned baseball cards.
Scheduled for sentencing in January, Mizuhara faces up to 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud and filing a false tax return. He may also be liable for nearly $17 million in restitution to Ohtani and over $1 million to the IRS. As a legal permanent resident with a green card, Mizuhara could potentially be deported to Japan.
Mizuhara was a close confidant of Ohtani, standing by his side during many career milestones, including the Home Run Derby at the 2021 All-Star Game and his two American League MVP wins. Off the field, Mizuhara was a friend and confidant, famously resigning from the Los Angeles Angels during the 2021 MLB lockout to maintain communication with Ohtani.
However, Mizuhara’s gambling habits led to his downfall, betting tens of millions of dollars on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL, and college football. This year, Ohtani and the Dodgers clinched the World Series, with Ohtani earning his third Most Valuable Player award.
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