Mosses Ramos, Jail Bribery & Drug Trafficking, Idaho 2024

Seattle – In a jaw-dropping turn of events, former King County Jail guard Mosses Ramos, 40, of Milton, Washington, has pleaded guilty to bribery and distributing massive amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills to inmates behind bars.

Ramos, a 17-year veteran of the King County jail system, was fired last year and will face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez on September 13, 2024.

According to records filed in the case, between March and May 2023, Ramos accepted bribes to bring about a pound of methamphetamine and 100 fentanyl pills into the jail for the benefit of inmates Michael Anthony Barquet, 37, and Francisco Montero, 25. Both men are currently incarcerated.

Montero is facing trial in King County Superior Court for a double homicide, while Barquet is scheduled for trial on drug and bribery charges in October 2024. The web of bribes and drug trafficking extended outside the jail with three female coconspirators who are alleged associates of the two inmates: Neca Silvestre, 38, of Kent; Katrina Cazares, 38, of Burien; and Kayara Zepeda Montero, 27, of Seattle.

All three remain charged in the case and will face justice in the coming months. Ramos has accepted responsibility and pleaded guilty, but the other defendants have not and are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the King County Sheriff’s Office with support from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cindy Chang and Vince Lombardi.

The harsh reality of Ramos’ actions sends a chilling message to law enforcement officials and jail staff: no one is above the law, and those who engage in corruption and drug trafficking will be held accountable.

Ramos’ guilty plea serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of bribery and drug trafficking in our communities. His actions put the lives of inmates and staff at risk, and his sentence will be a just punishment for his crimes.