LOS ANGELES– Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani He wants his former translator to hand over baseball cards worth hundreds of thousands of dollars that he says were fraudulently purchased with his own money.

Ohtani also received an autographed collectible baseball depicting Ohtani from Ippei Mizuhara, who previously pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud for stealing nearly $17 million from the unsuspecting athlete, according to court documents filed Tuesday. He demands that he return his cards. .

The legal filing alleges that starting in November 2021, Mizuhara accessed Ohtani’s bank account and modified security protocols so he could impersonate her to allow wire transfers. By 2024, Mizuhara had used that money to purchase approximately $325,000 worth of baseball cards from online sellers eBay and Whatnot, according to court documents.

Mizuhara’s attorney, Michael G. Freedman, declined to comment on the case.

Mizuhara He pleaded guilty in June From Ohtani’s Arizona bank account to spending millions to cover his growing gambling bets and debts to an illegal bookmaker, as well as his own medical bills and $325,000 worth of baseball cards.

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Mizuhara is scheduled to be sentenced in January after pleading guilty to one count of bank fraud and subscribing to a false tax return, crimes punishable by more than 30 years in federal prison. Ohtani could also be awarded approximately $17 million in damages, as well as more than $1 million in damages to the IRS. And a green card holder can be deported to Japan as a legal permanent resident.

Mizuhara has been by Ohtani’s side for many of the highlights of the Japanese sensation’s career, from serving as catcher in the Home Run Derby at the 2021 All-Star Game to his two American League MVP wins and his record-breaking $700 million haul. 10-year deal with Dodgers

Off the court, Mizuhara became Ohtani’s friend and confidant. However, Mizuhara gambled by betting tens of millions of dollars that were not his own on international football, NBA, NFL and college football matches; but prosecutors said he never bet on baseball.

Last month, Ohtani and the Dodgers won the World Series, and the baseball star won the championship. third Most Valuable Player award last Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.