United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of FERNANDO RAMOS-MEZA, 34, for conspiring to distribute approximately 191 pounds of methamphetamine. RAMOS-MEZA and co-conspirators PETER MARTIN, 34, JAVIER LOPEZ-LOPEZ, 47, and JUAN DANIEL VALDEZ-MENDOZA, 24, were indicted on November 7, 2018. RAMOS-MEZA pleaded guilty earlier today before Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 20, 2019.
“The quantities of methamphetamine coming into our state continue to rise and the destruction that comes with it cannot be understated," said U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald. “I applaud the work of the Cannon River Drug Task Force in taking nearly 200 pounds of methamphetamine off the street and out of our community."
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, on Sept. 11, 2018, law enforcement officers with the Cannon River Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at RAMOS-MEZA’s residence in north Minneapolis. During the search of the residence, officers located several items of contraband, including a 12-gauge sawed-off pump shotgun, and approximately 191 pounds of methamphetamine (with packaging).
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Cannon River Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney David P. Steinkamp is prosecuting the case.
Defendant Information:
FERNANDO RAMOS-MEZA, 34
Minneapolis, Minn.
Convicted:
* Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
