Un“lucky” fugitive sent to prison for double firearms charges

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 49-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been sent to prison following his convictions of illegally possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Joe Adam Ramirez aka Lucky pleaded guilty March 2, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, ordered Ramirez to serve 160 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Ramirez was sending threatening letters while in a detention facility. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Ramirez’s significant and lengthy criminal history.

At the time of his plea, Ramirez admitted that on Sept. 4, 2020, he was in possession of drugs and a gun. Ramirez was a known fugitive.

On that day, authorities were able to locate him at a hotel in Corpus Christi. They conducted surveillance and observed him exit the hotel, enter the passenger side of a truck and depart the location. Law enforcement performed a traffic stop, at which time Ramirez attempted to flee on foot, but he tripped and fell.  

Authorities discovered a loaded 9mm Taurus pistol, several bags of meth, Xanax and other prescription pills.

Ramirez admitted he was aware of being a convicted felon and was not allowed to own a firearm. He said he ran because he did not want to go back to prison.

Ramirez has five prior felony convictions involving burglary of a vehicle, burglary of a habitation, theft from a person, aggravated robbery and possession of controlled substance. As such, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.  

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Marck and Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.