The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on March 1, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individual was arraigned:

ELIER GONZALEZ-RAMOS, a 23-year-old resident of Mexico, appeared on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and alien in possession of firearm. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, GONZALEZ-RAMOS faces possible penalties of at least ten years up to life in prison, a $4,000,000 fine and at least five years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation's Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force, which includes the Billings Police Department and the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and Billings High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.

The defendant pled not guilty to the charges.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

 

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