Mother of Seven Sentenced for Multiple Meth Trips

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 34-year-old Waco woman has received a significant sentence following her conviction of methamphetamine distribution, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.   

Jackeline Hortencia Ramirez pleaded guilty in October 2018 to possession with intent to distribute 5.34 kilograms of methamphetamine.  

Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. sentenced her to serve 150 months in federal prison. In imposing the sentence, the court noted the number of drug trafficking trips Ramirez made, the damage methamphetamine causes on both sides of the border and the payments she received.

At the hearing, Ramirez asked the court for leniency given she is a mother of seven children, the youngest of which is four years old.

On June 26, 2018, Ramirez entered the United States through the port of entry in Brownsville driving a Nissan Maxima with two of her minor children. During inspection, authorities discovered the nearly six kilograms of methamphetamine in a hidden compartment.

The investigation revealed Ramirez had previously made approximately five trips to Waco and Houston to deliver drugs and return the drug proceeds for delivery in Matamoros. She received between $4000-6000 for each trip she made.

She has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Oscar Ponce is prosecuting the case.