Ever Astorga-Ramirez, 34, who most recently resided in Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on February 8, 2013, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Astorga-Ramirez had previously entered pleas of guilty on Nov. 2, 2012, to Possession With the Intent to Distribute Heroin (Count 1) and Illegal Re-Entry Into the United States Following Deportation (Count 2). Astorga-Ramirez was sentenced to seventy (70) months imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay a Special Assessment of $200. In addition, the Court entered an Order of Removal, which requires that Astorga-Ramirez be deported from the United States following the service of his term of imprisonment.
According to public documents filed with the Court, Astorga-Ramirez was arrested by the Illinois State Police on September 9, 2012, following a traffic stop on Interstate 55/70 in Madison County, Illinois. Following the traffic stop, approximately 1.4 kilograms of heroin was located in a hidden compartment within the center console of the vehicle. The Defendant had previously been deported from the United States in November 2010, through Laredo, Texas.
Evidence in support of the complaint was obtained in an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Illinois State Police, and the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI). This case was assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Randy G. Massey for prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
