Repeat drug trafficker gets significant sentence

McALLEN, Texas –A 63-year-old Pharr resident has been sentenced following his conviction of possession with intent to distribute 11 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Gilberto Eloy Ramirez pleaded guilty Oct. 1, 2020.

U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Ramirez to serve a 262-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing his extensive criminal history including seven prior convictions for drug trafficking. In handing down the sentence, Judge Crane noted Ramirez is a career offender who has spent a substantial amount of years in prison for his past crimes and yet continued to make poor choices.

In May 2019, authorities conducted a traffic stop on a Ramirez drove. He was found in possession of two plastic bags of cocaine in his pocket.

Law enforcement then searched his residence and property. They discovered multiple bricks of cocaine with a combined weight of 11 kilograms, a scale, plastic wrap, razor blades, heat seal bags and a loaded 9 mm caliber pistol.  

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Alexis Garcia and Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.