Shohei Ohtani, the famed baseball star celebrated for his recent World Series triumph and MVP season, is now embroiled in a legal battle. Ohtani is on a mission to retrieve baseball cards worth a staggering $325,000 that were unlawfully obtained by his former interpreter and trusted ally, Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara, who previously admitted to defrauding Ohtani of almost $17 million, is at the center of this high-profile dispute.
Taking action, Ohtani recently lodged a formal request with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to reclaim ownership of the confiscated sports cards. This move led to the scheduling of a hearing on December 20 to address the matter and determine the cards’ rightful owner.
The fraudulent activities that unfolded earlier this year revealed Mizuhara’s deceit, wherein he confessed to committing bank and tax fraud at Ohtani’s expense. Over a span from January to March 2024, Mizuhara misappropriated funds from Ohtani’s account to purchase collectible baseball cards from online platforms like eBay and Whatnot, with the intention of profiting from their resale. Ohtani argues that the cards were bought using his money and therefore should be rightfully returned to him.
Furthermore, Ohtani disclosed to the court the discovery of a quantity of autographed collectible baseball cards featuring his likeness among Mizuhara’s possessions. He asserts that these cards were erroneously seized and included in the overall confiscation. As part of his legal motion, Ohtani seeks the reinstatement of these personally signed cards alongside the other seized items.
Detailed descriptions of the confiscated items were provided in court records, including collectible sports cards stored in distinctive silver and black Panopply cases, as well as in gray Panopply cases. Additionally, the seized items encompassed a box containing more collectible sports cards, a card wrapping device, and plastic card protector holders, forming a part of the disputed collection.
Mizuhara’s deceptive actions, executed through unauthorized access to Ohtani’s financial accounts, ultimately led to his downfall. The scandal led to Mizuhara’s dismissal by the Los Angeles Dodgers in March once the extent of his fraudulent schemes had been revealed. Despite Mizuhara’s sentencing initially being slated for October 25 and later rescheduled to December 20, it is now postponed yet again to January 24.
The impending hearing scheduled for December 20 holds significance as it will determine whether Ohtani can successfully reclaim ownership of the confiscated sports cards. This legal development stands as another chapter in the aftermath of Mizuhara’s breach of trust, tarnishing the relationship between the baseball luminary and his once-confidant.
