Texas Border Business
McAllen, Texas – A 22-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to prison following his conviction of attempting to export firearm magazines, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Ociel Ambrosio Ramirez-Ramirez pleaded guilty Dec. 30, 2019.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced Ramirez-Ramirez to 52 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his release from prison.
In handing down the sentence, the court noted the type and sheer quantity of the firearm magazines Ramirez-Ramirez smuggled to be particularly troublesome. Judge Alvarez recognized the violence south of the U.S. border and how drug trafficking organizations often rely on individuals like Ramirez-Ramirez to provide weapons or ammunition from the United States.
On Oct. 13, 2019, Ramirez-Ramirez attempted to export 1,057 AK-47 magazines and six 1911-style .38 super magazines from the United States into Mexico through the Hidalgo Port of Entry. At the time of his arrest, Ramirez-Ramirez informed agents he maintained a storage unit in Hidalgo. Law enforcement subsequently searched it and discovered numerous empty boxes of ammunition, gun cases and a 7.62x39mm round of ammunition therein.
Ramirez-Ramirez 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 Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid prosecuted the case.
