ROCHESTER, NY – Jose F. Ramos, 36, is headed back to prison after a brazen display of violence and a subsequent firearms violation. Ramos was sentenced to 40 months behind bars by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer, following a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and violating the terms of his supervised release.
The incident unfolded on June 20, 2021, at a McDonald’s Restaurant on Upper Falls Boulevard. Employees reported a drive-thru patron – later identified as Ramos – brandishing a handgun and threatening to shoot a worker. By the time Rochester Police arrived, Ramos had fled the scene in a vehicle. But officers weren’t left empty-handed. Surveillance footage clearly showed Ramos grabbing at his waistband as he exited the vehicle, then hurling a drink tray through the drive-thru window before making his escape.
A subsequent search led officers to Ramos nearby on North Clinton Avenue. The search of the vehicle yielded a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun found on the floor of the passenger seat. The discovery was particularly damning given Ramos’s extensive criminal history and current status on supervised release. He was already prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
This wasn’t Ramos’s first brush with federal prison. In June 2010, he was convicted for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy and served a lengthy 132-month sentence. His recent arrest occurred while still under court supervision from that previous conviction, making the gun charge a direct violation of his release terms.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Moynihan as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN aims to reduce violent crime by focusing on the most dangerous offenders and collaborating with local programs designed to prevent crime and aid in re-entry. This isn’t just about locking people up; it’s about tackling the root causes of violence in our communities.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Rochester Police Department, led by Chief David Smith, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito of the New York Field Division. This case serves as a stark reminder that those with a history of violent crime, and who illegally possess firearms, will be aggressively pursued and brought to justice.
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