COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ramiro Nonato Mendoza, 39, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 160 months in prison for heroin and cocaine charges.
Benjamin C. Glassman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon, Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Paul Pride, Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs, Donald J. Soranno, Special Agent in Charge, Columbus Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and (ATF), Marlon V. Miller, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security (HSI) and Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott, announced the sentence handed down today by Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
Mendoza was one of 22 individuals charged by a superseding indictment in April 2015. According to court documents, the group operated a drug trafficking ring that involved numerous kilograms of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. The case also involved the illegal employment of unauthorized aliens and the possession of numerous firearms.
The defendants in this case attempted to launder their drug proceeds by purchasing vehicles, including a Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra and Acura TSX. More than $208,000 and 11 firearms were seized during federal search warrants in connection with this case.
Mendoza pleaded guilty on November 4, 2015 to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin and more than five kilograms of cocaine and one count of money laundering.
Acting U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by law enforcement, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Prichard and David J. Bosley, who are representing the United States in this case.
