Man Wanted in Tenn. for Sex Assault of Minors Captured in Dominican Republic, Returned to U.S. to Face Charges

NASHVILLE — A man wanted in Franklin on charges of sexual assault against minors was arrested in the Dominican Republic on Monday and has been returned to the United States to face the charges against him. 

Fernando Gonzalez Ramirez, 32, who is a Panamanian citizen, is facing state charges in Williamson County, where he is alleged to have sexually assaulted multiple boys while helping run a youth baseball program in Franklin between 2023-2024.

Gonzalez is alleged to have fled Tennessee after learning that law enforcement was investigating him after two boys came forward with allegations Gonzalez had assaulted them. 

U.S. Marshals (USMS) investigators developed information that Gonzalez had traveled to Mexico, Japan and Panama before learning Monday that he was in the Dominican Republic. A lead was sent to the USMS Foreign Field Office in the Dominican Republic through the agency’s Office of International Operations, and Gonzalez was in custody within hours.

Gonzalez was flown to New Jersey Tuesday evening and is awaiting extradition back to Tennessee to face the state charges. The investigation remains ongoing, and law enforcement authorities believe Gonzalez may have additional, unknown victims.

Anyone with information about Gonzalez is urged to contact the USMS at 1-877-WANTED2 or submit a tip by emailing usmstips@usdoj.gov

The investigating agency is the Franklin Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by the Office of Stacey B. Edmonson, District Attorney General for the Twenty-First Judicial District.

The USMS investigates sex offenses primarily by tracking, locating, and arresting non-compliant sex offenders, enforcing federal registration laws, and supporting local, state, and international law enforcement agencies.