Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani is seeking to recover $325,000 worth of baseball cards that he claims were improperly bought by his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara, who pleaded guilty to illegally transferring $17 million out of Ohtani’s account to fund a gambling habit, used some of the stolen funds to purchase collectible baseball cards. Ohtani and his lawyer filed a court case claiming that some of the cards purchased by Mizuhara rightfully belong to the player.
Mizuhara has a quantity of personally signed collectible baseball cards that belong to Ohtani, according to the court filing. Mizuhara is scheduled to be sentenced in January, and his attorney could not be reached for comment. Ohtani has denied ever betting on sports, and no law enforcement agency has accused him of it. Despite the distraction of the scandal, Ohtani went on to win the National League MVP award and lead the Dodgers to their first World Series title since 1988.
Sports betting is legal in 38 states and the District of Columbia, but not in California where the Dodgers are based. MLB players and team employees are strictly prohibited from wagering on their sport. Ohtani’s case against Mizuhara highlights the dangers of financial exploitation and the importance of upholding the rules and regulations set forth by professional sports organizations.
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