Shohei Ohtani petitioned a federal judge this week for ownership of $325,000 worth of baseball cards fraudulently purchased by Ippei Mizhura, the former interpreter and confidant who pleaded guilty earlier this year to defrauding Ohtani of nearly $17 million.
Ohtani, fresh off a World Series win and a National League MVP season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, asked the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Tuesday for a hearing to regain ownership of sports cards authorities seized from Mizuhara.
Mizuhara pleaded guilty in June to bank and tax fraud after stealing millions from Ohtani. Between January and March of 2024, Mizuhara purchased baseball cards on online resale platforms eBay and Whatnot, intending to resell them. Ohtani wants those items back, arguing they were bought with his money.
In addition, Ohtani wrote to the court that “a quantity of personally signed collectible baseball cards” with his image were wrongly in Mizuhara’s possession when they were seized, and he seeks their return as well.
Mizuhara stole from Ohtani via unauthorized access to his bank account. The Dodgers fired Mizhuara in March. Mizhura’s sentencing was set for Dec. 20 but was delayed Wednesday to Jan. 24. The hearing had originally been scheduled for Oct. 25.
In court filings, Mizuhara’s forfeited items are described as “collectible sports cards found in silver and black Panopply case; collectible sports cards found in gray Panopply case; box containing collectible sports cards; card wrap device; and plastic card protectors holders.”
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(Photo of Ohtani and Mizuhara in December 2023: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)