Shohei Ohtani to Recover $325K in Baseball Cards Stolen by Former Interpreter

Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani's ex-interpreter, faces sentencing for stealing nearly $17 million to fund gambling debts.

Shohei Ohtani is set to reclaim $325,000 worth of baseball cards fraudulently purchased by his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
Mizuhara stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani over several years by impersonating him and manipulating his bank accounts to fund gambling debts.
The collectible cards, including signed items featuring Ohtani, were seized by law enforcement and will be returned to him during Mizuhara’s sentencing in January 2025.
Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud in June 2024 and could face four to seven years in prison, along with restitution payments to Ohtani and the IRS.
The stolen funds also included $60,000 for dental work and over 1,000 trading card purchases, highlighting the extent of Mizuhara’s financial exploitation.