Baseball star Shohei Ohtani is seeking the return of valuable baseball cards from his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, who allegedly used Ohtani's money to purchase them fraudulently. Court documents filed on Tuesday reveal that Mizuhara accessed Ohtani's bank account and made unauthorized purchases of approximately $325,000 worth of baseball cards from online resellers eBay and Whatnot.
Mizuhara, who previously pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud for stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani, is facing serious legal consequences. He is scheduled to be sentenced in January after admitting to using Ohtani's funds for gambling, debts, medical bills, and the purchase of baseball cards. The crimes he committed could result in a potential sentence of over 30 years in federal prison, along with substantial restitution to Ohtani and the IRS. Additionally, as a legal permanent resident, Mizuhara may face deportation to Japan.
