June 30, 2026 – OAKLAND, CA – Daniel Damato was sentenced on Monday to 21 months in federal prison for his role in a wire fraud scheme in which he knowingly sold counterfeit sports memorabilia and attempted to obstruct the FBI’s investigation into his criminal conduct. United States District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín handed down the sentence.

Damato, 40, of Concord, California, was charged by Information on October 20, 2025, with one count of wire fraud. The Information alleged that between 2022 and 2024, Damato, a sports memorabilia dealer, doctored and gave false provenance to valuable items to make them appear as authentic and legitimate sports collectables. Damato then attempted to sell these items to unsuspecting buyers at heavily inflated prices.

The Information specifically described two sports memorabilia items Damato fraudulently marketed and sold—a baseball bat he represented was a 1954 game-used World Series bat and a jersey he asserted was a 1972 game-worn jersey. Damato claimed that the bat was used and the jersey was worn by Willie Mays, described as one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived, according to the Information.

Related: Contra Costa County Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud After Selling Fraudulent Sports Memorabilia

On December 8, 2025, Damato pled guilty to the wire fraud count charged in the Information. In connection with his plea, Damato admitted that despite his assertions to the contrary, the bat he sold for $100,000 to one victim had not been used in the 1954 World Series by Mays. Rather, Damato admitted that the bat was a “factory error” bat that was an inch shorter than what Mays used during his career. Damato further admitted that he sold other fraudulent items, including a jersey he falsely claimed was worn by Mays that he sold for $50,000 to a second victim. In addition, the Court found that Damato defrauded a third victim in connection with his sports memorabilia scheme, determining that Damato stole over $900,000 from that victim while falsely promising to deliver sports memorabilia.

In addition to his fraudulent conduct, Damato admitted in his plea agreement that after the FBI executed a search warrant on his residence, he contacted at least one potential witness in an attempt to obstruct the government’s investigation.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble made the announcement.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martínez-Olguín sentenced Damato to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered restitution in the amount of $1,068,940. Damato had previously been remanded into custody and will begin serving his sentence immediately.

Assistant United States Attorney Abraham Fine is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.

Source: DOJ Release