The world of baseball has been swept up in a scandal involving more than just stolen bases. The U.S. government has its sights set on a valuable collection of baseball cards, once owned by Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of Los Angeles Angels phenom Shohei Ohtani. This tale involves millions of dollars embezzled, iconic players featured on cards, and a legal showdown that is set to unfold in the coming months.
It all started with Mizuhara’s penchant for baseball cards, purchased using nearly $17 million siphoned from Ohtani’s accounts. Between the months of January and March in 2024, a staggering $325,000 of Ohtani’s money was funneled into acquiring these prized possessions. The collection is said to include cards depicting celebrated players like Yogi Berra, Juan Soto, and even Ohtani himself. These pieces of memorabilia, once cherished by Mizuhara, may soon find themselves in the hands of the law.
Federal prosecutors have taken swift action, filing a request with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to seize Mizuhara’s baseball card trove. Not stopping at just the cards, they are also looking to confiscate any packaging materials and equipment used to protect these collectibles. With Mizuhara’s sentencing hearing looming in late October, the final chapter of this saga is yet to be written.
In a bid for justice, prosecutors are adamant about having these ill-gotten gains forfeited as part of Mizuhara’s punishment. This move comes on the heels of Mizuhara’s plea agreement, struck in May, where he confessed to misdeeds involving bank and tax fraud. Solemnly, Mizuhara entered a guilty plea in June, fully aware of the repercussions looming on the horizon.
The once-trusted aide, confidant, and de facto manager to Ohtani, had his house of cards come crashing down when the truth emerged. Mizuhara, aged 39, had been a constant presence in Ohtani’s orbit since the Japanese sensation joined the Angels back in 2018. Over the span of several years, Mizuhara diverted vast sums from Ohtani’s accounts to fuel his vices – gambling and the pursuit of premium sports memorabilia.
The climax of this tale is set for October 25, when Mizuhara’s sentencing will take place. The courtroom drama is expected to crescendo with a ruling on the forfeiture request, tying up the loose ends of this high-stakes spectacle. The case of United States v. Mizuhara, unfolding in the heart of California’s legal landscape, bears the weight of a cautionary tale for all those who dare to gamble with trust and loyalty.
