Shohei Ohtani, fresh off a World Series victory and a National League MVP season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has petitioned a federal judge to reclaim $325,000 worth of baseball cards fraudulently purchased by his former interpreter and confidant, Ippei Mizuhara. Earlier this year, Mizuhara pleaded guilty to defrauding Ohtani of nearly $17 million.
Ohtani filed his request with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Tuesday, seeking ownership of the sports cards seized from Mizuhara by authorities. A hearing on the matter was granted and is set for December 20.
Background on the Fraud
Mizuhara admitted in June to bank and tax fraud, confessing to stealing millions from Ohtani. Between January and March 2024, Mizuhara used funds from Ohtani's account to purchase baseball cards on platforms such as eBay and Whatnot, intending to resell them for profit. Ohtani asserts that the cards were purchased with his money and therefore belong to him.Adding to the case, Ohtani informed the court that “a quantity of personally signed collectible baseball cards” featuring his image was also found among Mizuhara's possessions and wrongly included in the seizure. Ohtani is requesting their return as part of his petition.
Details of the Seized Items
Court filings describe the seized items as:- 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
- Plastic card protector holders