Government Moves to Seize Baseball Cards Bought with Stolen Funds by Ohtani’s Interpreter

The U.S. government is seeking to confiscate a collection of valuable baseball cards owned by Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani, who pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly $17 million from the player.

In a legal filing submitted on Monday, federal prosecutors asked the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California for permission to seize Mizuhara’s baseball card collection, along with associated packaging materials and card-protecting equipment. Mizuhara’s sentencing hearing is set for late October.

Between January and March 2024, Mizuhara spent over $325,000 of Ohtani’s money on baseball cards purchased from online marketplaces like eBay and Whatnot. His collection includes cards featuring iconic players such as Yogi Berra, Juan Soto, and Shohei Ohtani himself, according to details in Mizuhara’s plea agreement.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors are seeking to have these items forfeited as part of Mizuhara’s punishment. Mizuhara, who also agreed to surrender other sports memorabilia bought with Ohtani's funds, entered into the plea agreement in May and formally pleaded guilty in June to charges of bank and tax fraud.

Mizuhara, 39, had been a trusted friend, interpreter, and unofficial manager for Ohtani since the Japanese star joined the Angels in 2018. Over several years, Mizuhara siphoned millions from Ohtani’s accounts to cover his gambling debts and purchase high-end baseball collectibles.

The court is expected to rule on the forfeiture request as part of Mizuhara’s sentencing, scheduled for October 25.

The case is United States v. Mizuhara, C.D. Cal., No. 8:24-cr-00054-JWH, 9/16/24.