HARRISBURG, PA – In a major blow to Central Pennsylvania’s cocaine trade, Moniqua Ramirez, 44, of Lancaster, was sentenced to 40 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for her conviction of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Ramirez conspired with others to smuggle kilograms of cocaine into Central Pennsylvania through the U.S. Mail. The cocaine was shipped in Puerto Rico and mailed to various drop locations in Lancaster, where the parcels were retrieved by conspirators for further distribution. In a particularly egregious twist, the conspirators also engaged in street level drug trafficking, including selling heroin and fentanyl to customers.
But Ramirez’s scheme didn’t stop there. The conspirators transported cash back to Puerto Rico in furtherance of the trafficking. A jury convicted Ramirez of conspiracy to traffic cocaine after a three-day jury trial that concluded in November 2023.
Ramirez’s coconspirators, Jonathan Lopez Arizmendi, Ricardo Soto, Ricky Sanchez, Angel Leon-Rivera, Omar Carmenaty Morales, and Lucas Doel Gonzalez-Alvarado, pleaded guilty. Their sentences are as follows:
Jonathan Arizmendi, 20, of Puerto Rico, was sentenced to 150 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy.
Ricardo Soto, 35, of Lancaster, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for his involvement in the cocaine trafficking ring.
Ricky Sanchez, 37, of Lancaster, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for his part in the conspiracy.
Lucas Doel Gonzalez-Alvarado, 30, of Puerto Rico, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for his role in the scheme.
Angel Leon-Rivera and Omar Carmenaty Morales are awaiting sentencing.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Pennsylvania State Police, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Lancaster County Drug Task Force and York County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Consiglio is prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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