Drug Dealer Who Threatened Witnesses Gets 25-Year Sentence

PHILADELPHIA—Ricardo Ramos, 28, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison for firearms and drug trafficking charges announced United States Attorney Michael L. Levy. Ramos was indicted on May 14, 2008, and was convicted March 5, 2009, after a jury trial, of possession of a stolen firearm while possessing with intent to distribute approximately 22.3 grams of heroin and 3.4 grams of cocaine. At the time of the offense, Ramos was on parole for one of his four adult convictions.

At sentencing, the government presented evidence that, while in federal custody awaiting sentencing, Ramos threatened two witnesses, one of whom Ramos expected to testify against him at his trial and one who testified against him at his sentencing. Additionally, the government presented evidence that Ramos bragged about his past violent behavior, including a 2004 attempted murder charge which had been dismissed in 2005 because the victim failed to appear for court.

In addition to the prison sentence, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Jan E. Dubois ordered six years of supervise release, and that Ramos pay a fine of $1,000, and a mandatory special assessment of $300.

This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joan E. Burnes and Karen Marston.