Defendant sentenced to federal prison after officers seize $100K pure fentanyl powder

Composite image with background photo of federal prison in Lompoc, California; overlay photo of Anthony John Ramirez, 59, taken in Washington County, Utah, Dec. 12, 2021 | Booking photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A California man was sentenced in federal court after officers in Washington City recovered more than $100,000 in pure fentanyl powder and nearly $9,000 in cash during a traffic stop in December.

2021 file photo for illustrative purposes only of Washington City Police officers responding to Telegraph Street in Washington City, Utah, Oct. 22, 2021 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

On Wednesday, 59-year-old Anthony John Ramirez was sentenced to serve 30 months in federal prison during a hearing held in U.S. District Court on one felony count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, a charge the defendant pleaded guilty to on March 22. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million.

The case stems from an arrest in December after officers found two bags that combined, weighed more than a quarter of a pound of pure fentanyl powder that was valued at more than $100,000. Officers also recovered a black leather envelope containing more than $8,990 in cash.

The defendant was arrested and booked into jail on Dec. 12, where he remained without bail.

The case was initially filed in state court, but was picked up by federal prosecutors and the case was filed in U.S. District Court in February and the state charges were dismissed shortly thereafter.

During the hearing Wednesday, District Judge David Nuffer went over the plea agreement signed in March that stipulated a 30-month prison sentence, a term the defense stated was appropriate in accordance with the presentence report.

U.S. Attorney Jay Winward addressed the court on behalf of the government saying negotiations began early due to evidentiary issues that were not in the government’s favor, factors the defense pointed out early on, he said, which made the decision to negotiate the agreement a relatively easy one.

The speed in which the case was resolved was not lost on the judge either, when Nuffer said the charging documents and statement of plea were filed with the court in rapid succession.

Gary Pendleton, Ramirez’s defense attorney, also addressed the court by saying the case was wrought with Fourth Amendment issues, as outlined in a section in the U.S. Constitution that addresses warrants, probable cause, and search and seizure protections afforded to criminal defendants.

Pendleton went on to say that after those issues came to light, both sides conceded that a 30-month sentence was reasonable for his client.

Ramirez also addressed the court by saying that after his arrest in December was one of the few times in his life that he genuinely felt a sense of remorse for his actions. He also said the shame and guilt he was feeling was not only for himself, but the the pain he had caused his fiancé and his children.

2021 booking photo of Anthony John Ramirez, 59, taken in Washington County, Utah, Dec. 12, 2021 | Booking photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

He went on to say his actions also had an impact on the government, the court and the taxpayer – everybody, he said.

“My behavior affects a lot more people than I really understood it,” he said, adding that while his attack of conscience, regret and remorse does not a rehabilitated person make – it’s a good first step, he said.

Ramirez closed by apologizing for the pain he had caused his family.

Before handing down his ruling, Nuffer said the defendant’s comments would be good for anyone to hear, adding the defendant’s address in court would also serve as a reminder and help to motivate him going forward.

The judge went on to say that both sides likely “threaded a couple of needles” by coming to an agreement amid the legal challenges that were present in the case.

Nuffer then sentenced the defendant to serve the 30-month prison sentence with the recommendation that Ramirez be placed in a federal facility nearest to Los Angeles to facilitate family visitation. Upon his release, the defendant would be placed on post prison supervision for three years.

Ramirez was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Office until a federal prison facility is designated and he begins serving out his sentence.

This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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