Ohtani's Ex-Interpreter Used Stolen Money For Gambling, Cards

Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani seeking the return of nearly $325,000 worth of baseball cards which he says were bought by his ex-interpreter using his money.

Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani is taking legal action against his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Ohtani is seeking the return of nearly $325,000 worth of baseball cards which he says were bought using his money. 

This latest development, reported by Associated Press and ESPN, sheds light on the extent of Mizuhara's alleged financial misconduct, which was fueled by a severe gambling addiction.

According to the report, between January and March 2024, Mizuhara bought baseball cards online to resell. Ohtani claims ownership of these cards, purchased with his money, and seeks their return from authorities who seized them during Mizuhara's arrest. 

Ohtani also asked the court to return personally signed baseball cards bearing his image that were in Mizuhara's possession at the time of the seizure.

Mizuhara was accused of gaining unauthorized access to Ohtani's bank account in late 2021. By altering security settings, Mizuhara allegedly impersonated Ohtani to authorize wire transfers. These funds were then used to purchase approximately $325,000 worth of baseball cards from online retailers like eBay and Whatnot.

He previously pleaded guilty to charges of bank and tax fraud, admitting to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani. The stolen funds were reportedly used to finance a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of high-value baseball cards. However, a significant portion of the money was diverted to cover mounting gambling debts.

After pleading guilty to bank fraud and tax evasion, Mizuhara is facing a potential 30-year prison sentence. He could also be ordered to pay millions of dollars in restitution to both Ohtani and the IRS. Furthermore, his status as a legal permanent resident could be revoked, leading to deportation back to Japan.

Mizuhara’s camp declined to comment on the filing. 

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