United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

AMARILLO, TEXAS, MAN CONVICTED ON DRUG CHARGE

AMARILLO, Texas – A federal jury in U.S. District Juge Mary Lou Robinson’s court yesterday, convicted Raymundo Pereyra-Ramirez, 33, on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Ramirez faces a maximum statutory sentence of ten years minimum to life in prison and a $4,000,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Robinson on January 5, 2009.

The government presented evidence at trial that on or about June 19, 2008, an officer with the Department of Public Safety stopped a vehicle on Interstate 40 in Carson County for speeding. The driver of the vehicle was identified as defendant Raymundo Pereyra-Ramirez. Also in the vehicle was a female passenger, later identified as Adriana Iris Hernandez. Ramirez consented to a search of the vehicle, in which ten bundles of cocaine were discovered behind the rear passenger seat. The total weight of the cocaine was just over ten kilograms and was 64% pure. Ramirez admitted that he knew he was transporting cocaine hidden in the car.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the DEA Task Force and the Department of Public Safety. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christy Drake and Matthew Gulde.

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