The U.S. government is taking a swing at confiscating a prized collection of baseball cards owned by Ippei Mizuhara, once known as the former interpreter for the Los Angeles Angels’ baseball phenomenon Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara recently pleaded guilty to taking nearly $17 million from Ohtani’s funds through embezzlement.
In a recent legal maneuver on Monday, federal prosecutors turned to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to request authorization for seizing Mizuhara’s treasure trove of baseball cards, along with all associated packaging materials and card-protection equipment. The sentencing of Mizuhara is scheduled for late October.
Mizuhara’s spending spree between January and March of 2024 amounted to a staggering $325,000 of Ohtani’s hard-earned cash, as he splurged on acquiring baseball cards from various online marketplaces like eBay and Whatnot. Among the collection are cards spotlighting legendary players including Yogi Berra, Juan Soto, and even the talented Shohei Ohtani himself, as indicated in the details of Mizuhara’s confession in his plea agreement.
As part of the plea deal, prosecutors aim to ensure that these items are forfeited as a consequence of Mizuhara’s actions. In addition to the baseball cards, Mizuhara, who has also committed to handing over other sports memorabilia that was procured using Ohtani’s funds, struck the plea deal back in May and formally acknowledged his guilt in June on charges of bank and tax fraud.
Mizuhara, aged 39, had played the role of a close confidant, interpreter, and even an informal manager for Ohtani ever since the esteemed Japanese athlete joined the Los Angeles Angels back in 2018. Over the course of several years, Mizuhara illicitly diverted millions from Ohtani’s accounts to finance his gambling habits and acquire top-of-the-line baseball collectibles.
The court’s decision on the forfeiture petition is expected to be delivered during Mizuhara’s sentencing, which has been marked on the calendar for October 25.
The legal proceedings in question are filed under United States v. Mizuhara, C.D. Cal., No. 8:24-cr-00054-JWH, dated 9/16/24.
