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Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has filed a formal petition in federal court to reclaim $325,000 worth of baseball cards allegedly purchased with funds stolen by his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. The legal filing comes after Mizuhara admitted earlier this year to defrauding Ohtani of nearly $17 million in a complex scheme involving unauthorized access to the athlete’s bank accounts.
The petition, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, requests ownership of collectible sports cards seized from Mizuhara by authorities. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for December 20, following the court's approval of Ohtani’s request.
Mizuhara, once a trusted confidant, pleaded guilty in June to charges of bank and tax fraud. Between January and March 2024, he used funds siphoned from Ohtani's accounts to purchase valuable baseball cards from online resale platforms like eBay and Whatnot. According to Ohtani, these purchases were made without his knowledge or consent, and he is now seeking their return.
In addition to the cards purchased by Mizuhara, Ohtani has informed the court that the seized items include “personally signed collectible baseball cards” bearing his likeness, which were also improperly in Mizuhara’s possession. Ohtani is pushing for these items to be returned as well.
The court documents list the confiscated collectibles as:
Mizuhara’s fraudulent activities, which involved unauthorized withdrawals from Ohtani’s bank account, led to his dismissal by the Dodgers in March. Initially set for sentencing on October 25, Mizuhara’s hearing was postponed to December 20 and has now been further delayed to January 24.
Ohtani’s December 20 hearing will determine if ownership of the seized cards will be officially transferred to him. This legal move represents the latest chapter in the fallout of Mizuhara’s actions, which have cast a shadow over what has otherwise been a triumphant year for Ohtani, highlighted by his World Series victory and MVP accolades.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Ohtani continues to assert his rights to the collectibles and remains focused on reclaiming what he believes is rightfully his.
