Two southwest Washington methamphetamine kingpins, Steven McCracken and Jesus Ramirez-Lucio, were sentenced to over a decade in prison each for their roles in a massive drug trafficking operation. U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced that both men, aged 32 and 33 respectively, faced 14 years behind bars followed by five years of supervised release.
Mccracken and Ramirez-Lucio were convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in October 2012, following a six-day jury trial. Ramirez-Lucio was also found guilty of distribution of methamphetamine, while MCCRACKEN faced charges for possession with intent to distribute. U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton echoed the sentiment of the community, stating that ‘Methamphetamine destroys families. The community has a right to protect itself from those who would ply them with methamphetamine.’
The operation came to light when an anonymous tip led the Clark Vancouver Regional Drug Task Force to MCCRACKEN and Ramirez-Lucio. They met at a Kelso, Washington home on March 25, 2011, where MCCRACKEN paid Ramirez-Lucio over $34,000 for three pounds of highly pure meth. Following the drug deal, both men were followed by law enforcement.
In a dramatic pursuit on I-5, MCCRACKEN led police on a high-speed chase, leading to a collision and his attempt to discard drugs into the Cowlitz River. He was arrested, with recovered meth valued at over $34,000 in cash found on Ramirez-Lucio upon his return trip to Vancouver.
MCCRACKEN’s criminal history includes three previous convictions for distributing methamphetamine, stretching back to 1999. Ramirez-Lucio’s arrest yielded four firearms and a massive marijuana grow with over 700 plants.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, involving officers from multiple local law enforcement agencies, while Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Werner and Michael Lang prosecuted the case.
Related Federal Cases
- Eberley’s FDIC Retirement: A Decade of Risk Oversight to End · New York
- FDIC’s Academic Challenge: Teams Face Off Over Higher Interest Rates Impact · Washington
- FDIC Cracks Down on False Advertising: The Truth Behind the Insurance Scams · Washington
- Contractor John McClure Faces Decade-Long Prison Term in Fraud Scam · Washington
- Heroin & Meth Haul Lands Arizona Couple in Idaho Lockup · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
