A Mexican national has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas. Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. announced that Willy Armando Ramirez-Garcia, 34, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, has been sentenced to 320 months in federal custody. This sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on May 1, 2025.
In court proceedings, it was revealed that, from January 2021 to May 2021, Ramirez-Garcia, despite being illegally in the United States, led a methamphetamine trafficking organization based in Texas. The group smuggled liquid methamphetamine from Mexico to the U.S., concealing it in diesel tank bladders of commercial tractor trailers. Upon reaching North Texas, the liquid methamphetamine was converted into crystal methamphetamine for distribution. The operation used a stash house in Dallas as a distribution point.
The investigation, which began in January 2021, uncovered that the organization involved a local narcotics broker, Rosa Velasco De Ballin, and her supply source, Ivan Dejesus Suastes-Cruz, among others. These individuals operated out of the Dallas stash house and a Kemp ranch, where methamphetamine was manufactured. Among the operatives was Angel Rodriguez-Campuzano, a distributor for Suastes-Cruz. It was established that Suastes-Cruz, Juan Fuentez, and German Zapata worked under Ramirez-Garcia’s supervision, aiding in transportation, distribution, and facilitation of methamphetamine operations.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Dallas stash house, uncovering approximately 40 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 25 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine. A subsequent search at the Kemp ranch revealed a meth conversion lab. Overall, agents seized 66 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 25 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine. The co-defendants received prison terms as follows: De Ballin was sentenced to 168 months, Rodriguez-Campuzano to 295 months, Suastes-Cruz to 240 months, Fuentez to 300 months, and Zapata to 270 months.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, aimed at combating illegal immigration and eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The operation utilizes resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Sheriff’s Offices of Collin County, Dallas County, and Tarrant County. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne prosecuted the case.
