Jury Finds Springdale Man Guilty of Drug Conspiracy and Firearm Charges

            Fayetteville, Arkansas – Kenneth Elser, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Gilberto Ray Ramos, age 41, of Springdale, was found guilty on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, three counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm following a two day jury trial.  The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the trial in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.

            According to evidence presented to the jury, during the course of an ongoing operation, investigators learned that Ramos was distributing suspected methamphetamine from his residence in Springdale.  Detectives then obtained and executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence.  During the execution of the search warrant, methamphetamine, digital scales, plastic baggies, a large amount of U.S. currency, and a Kimber .45 caliber handgun were discovered.  In a separate DEA investigation agents learned that Ramos was conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Northwest Arkansas area.  

            Ramos will be sentenced at a later date.  The maximum sentence for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine are not more than 30 years imprisonment, not more than $2,000,000 fine, or both.  The maximum sentence for felon in possession of a firearm is not more than 10 years imprisonment, not more than $250,000 fine, or both.  The sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations.

            This case was investigated by the 4^th Judicial Drug Task Force, the DEA and the ATF.  Assistant United States Attorneys David Harris and Denis Dean prosecuted the case for the United States.

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            Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov