Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has achieved a significant legal victory in his ongoing legal saga against his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Federal prosecutors confirmed this week that Ohtani will recover approximately $325,000 worth of baseball cards that Mizuhara fraudulently purchased using funds stolen from Ohtani’s bank account.
The development marks a major step forward in Ohtani’s efforts to reclaim assets misappropriated by Mizuhara, who is entangled in a broader federal fraud case.
A court filing submitted Monday by federal prosecutors outlined the basis for Ohtani’s rightful claim to the cards, asserting that Ohtani holds a “superior interest in the property.”
“Ohtani holds a valid pre-existing interest in the forfeitable property as title to the forfeitable property was vested in Ohtani at the time of the commission of the acts which gave rise to the forfeiture,” the filing stated.
The fraudulent scheme came to light during a federal investigation that revealed Mizuhara used stolen funds to purchase the cards from online marketplaces, intending to resell them for profit. Prosecutors seized the cards during their inquiry into Mizuhara’s broader activities, which involved defrauding Ohtani out of nearly $17 million. The three-time MVP had petitioned the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California just last week to assert ownership of the cards, requesting a hearing originally scheduled for December 20.
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However, prosecutors have now determined that a hearing is unnecessary, effectively clearing the path for Ohtani to reclaim the seized property.
The legal victory is the latest chapter in a high-profile fraud case against Mizuhara, whose actions have drawn widespread condemnation. Mizuhara previously served as Ohtani’s interpreter, a position that afforded him access to the athlete’s finances, which he exploited to fund his fraudulent schemes.
Mizuhara is currently awaiting sentencing on federal bank and tax fraud charges. He pleaded guilty in May 2024, admitting to the theft of millions from Ohtani, including the funds used to purchase the baseball cards.
Sentencing for Mizuhara has been delayed twice—from an initial date in October 2024 to December 2024, and now to January 24, 2025.
While Ohtani’s recovery of the baseball cards marks a significant personal and legal triumph, the broader implications of the case continue to unfold. Mizuhara’s sentencing is expected to bring further closure to the financial and emotional toll his betrayal has inflicted on Ohtani.
As the federal case progresses, it serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities even high-profile figures can face at the hands of trusted confidants.
