**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**DATELINE: LOS ANGELES, CA**
**WHO:** Daniel "Danny" Ramirez, former professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2008-2012).
**WHAT:** Ramirez has been formally indicted by a federal grand jury on 14 counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, following a two-year investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI).
**WHEN:** The indictment was unsealed Tuesday morning at the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Ramirez was taken into federal custody at approximately 8:00 AM Pacific Time without incident at his Manhattan Beach residence.
**WHERE:** The charges stem from a scheme involving the fraudulent sale of shares in a purported "sports analytics and investment fund" operated out of a registered office in Irvine, California. Investigators say the fund had no legitimate investment activity.
**WHY:** According to Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra K. Morrison, Ramirez orchestrated a "sophisticated Ponzi-like structure" from 2015 to 2023, targeting over 80 victims—including former teammates and minor league players. The indictment alleges he promised guaranteed returns of 12% to 18% based on "exclusive access to proprietary data," when in reality, the fund had no revenue and no data products. Authorities allege Ramirez used new investor funds to pay "returns" to earlier investors, while diverting approximately $4.7 million for personal luxuries, including real estate in Scottsdale, Arizona, and a luxury yacht.
Ramirez faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and 10 years for money laundering. His arraignment is scheduled for Friday afternoon before U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald.