Three gas stations, three holdups, three times pointing guns at clerks who thought they were just punching a clock. Edgar Ramirez, 22, of Youngstown, Ohio, is now staring down federal charges tied to a violent crime spree that terrorized the Mahoning Valley for five straight days in December 2019.
U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman confirmed that an information charge has been filed against Ramirez, accusing him of three counts of interference with commerce by means of robbery and three separate counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The indictment follows the prior charging of co-defendant Melvin Lee Jackson, whose name is now stitched into the same grim tapestry of armed theft.
Court documents lay out a chilling pattern: On December 17, Ramirez and Jackson allegedly stormed a Speedway in Boardman, brandishing firearms and forcing employees to hand over cash. Two days later, they hit a Subway in Youngstown, again leveling guns at workers before fleeing with the register. Their final target, on December 21, was a Kwik Fill in Struthers—same script, same terror, same demand: empty the drawer or get shot.
Federal prosecutors aren’t mincing words. Each robbery didn’t just steal cash—it disrupted commerce, endangered lives, and weaponized fear in working-class neighborhoods already on edge. The FBI led the investigation, peeling back surveillance footage and witness statements to nail down the duo’s movements and roles in each violent encounter.
Still, the Justice Department reminds the public: an information charge is not a conviction. Ramirez is entitled to a fair trial. The burden rests squarely on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. No assumptions, no shortcuts—just evidence, cross-examination, and the slow grind of federal court.
If found guilty, Ramirez faces years behind bars. The court will weigh his prior record, his role in the crimes, and the severity of the violations. While the statutory maximum looms, sentencing guidelines suggest the outcome may be less—but not lenient. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis is leading the prosecution, with support from local forces including the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center and police in Youngstown, Boardman, and Struthers.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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