Yakima – Today, Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Gerardo Sanchez-Ramirez, age 35, a Mexican national who had been living in Pasco, Washington, was sentenced to 210 months in prison.

The case began with in investigation by the Tri-City Metro Drug Task Force, which led to a search warrant being served at the Defendant's residence in Pasco, Washington, on February 11, 2010. Located in several rooms throughout the residence, including a child's room, were containers of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine was in several purity levels. Most of the methamphetamine was in the 80-90% purity range, with some as high as 96%. However, 388.4 grams of the drug was 58.5% pure, indicative of methamphetamine that had been mixed with a "cutting" agent. The total net weight of the methamphetamine mixture seized was 2,428.6 grams (5.35 pounds), the total weight of actual methamphetamine was 2,118.1 grams (4.67 pounds). Gerardo Sanchez-Ramirez pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

In sentencing the Defendant to 210 months in prison, the Court described methamphetamine and methamphetamine addiction as "a plague on our community."

Michael C. Ormsby, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, said, "I want to congratulate the members of the Tri-City Metro Drug Task Force and their partner agencies for their thorough and professional investigation. But for their efforts, nearly 5 pounds of pure methamphetamine would have found its way into the communities of Eastern Washington. The potential misery represented by this amount of methamphetamine is staggering."

A conviction for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, where more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine are possessed, carries a minimum of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life in prison, a $4,000,000 fine, at least 5 years of court supervision after release and denial of certain Federal Benefits. After serving his sentence, the Defendant, a citizen and national of Mexico, will be deported and was prohibited by the Court from re-entering the United States without first obtaining permission of the Attorney General.

This investigation was conducted by the Tri-City Metro Drug Task Force with assistance from partner agencies and the Drug Enforcement Agency. This case was prosecuted by Alex Ekstrom, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

10-CR-6041-FVS

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