Shohei Ohtani News: Los Angeles Dodgers MLB player seeks $325K worth of baseball cards from former translator Ippei Mizuhara

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani wants his former translator to hand over hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of baseball cards that he says were fraudulently purchased with his money.

Ohtani is also demanding that Ippei Mizuhara, who previously pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud for stealing nearly $17 million from an unsuspecting athlete, return signed collectible baseball cards featuring Ohtani that were in Mizuhara’s “unauthorized and wrongful possession,” according to according to court documents filed Tuesday. .

The court document alleges that Mizuhara gained access to Ohtani’s bank account around November 2021, altering its security protocols so he could impersonate him and authorize bank transfers. By 2024, Mizuhara used the money to buy about $325,000 worth of baseball cards from online resellers eBay and Whatnot, according to court documents.

Mizuhara’s lawyer, Michael J. Friedman, declined to comment on the statement.

Mizuhara pleaded guilty in June spend millions from Ohtani’s Arizona bank account to cover his mounting gambling bets and debts to an illegal bookmaker, as well as his own medical bills and $325,000 worth of baseball cards.

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Mizuhara is scheduled to be sentenced in January after he pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return, crimes that carry a potential sentence of more than 30 years in federal prison. He could also face damages against Ohtani that could total nearly $17 million, as well as more than $1 million from the IRS. And as a legal permanent resident with a green card, he could be deported to Japan.

Mizuhara has been by Ohtani’s side through many of the highlights of the Japanese sensation’s career, from his role as catcher during the home run derby at the 2021 All-Star Game to two American League MVP wins and a record $700 million. 10-year contract with the Dodgers.

Off the field, Mizuhara became Otani’s friend and confidante. But Mizuhara lost it all by betting tens of millions of dollars that didn’t belong to him on international, NBA, NFL and college football games, even though prosecutors said he never bet on baseball.

Last month, Ohtani and the Dodgers won the World Series, and the baseball star won his third Most Valuable Player Award last Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.