LAREDO, TEXAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Texas, Southern), published as received.
LAREDO, Texas – A 48-year-old resident of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 32 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Ramces Chavez-Gomez, pleaded guilty Jan. 7.
Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered Chavez-Gomez to serve a total of 72 months in prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following his sentence. At the hearing, the court considered statements regarding Chavez-Gomez’s training and practice as a doctor in Mexico. In handing down the sentence, the court noted it was a shame Chavez-Gomez was trained to help and heal people, yet chose to bring poison into our country.
On Oct. 5, 2019, Chavez-Gomez attempted to drive his SUV through the Laredo North Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint on Interstate 35. During initial inspection, a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in the rear of the vehicle. An x-ray scan then revealed a hidden compartment near its rear seats.
Authorities further inspected the vehicle and found the compartment under the carpeting in the cargo area. There, they found 20 bundles of meth that weighed approximately 32 kilograms.
The drugs have an estimated street value of more than $250,000.
Chavez-Gomez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Harrison prosecuted the case.
