OKLAHOMA CITY – A 22-year-old Oklahoma City man will spend the next 30 months behind bars after admitting he lied to federal authorities while purchasing firearms, the Department of Justice announced Friday. NEMORY ZAHID RAMOS CASTRO was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot after pleading guilty to two counts of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm.
The case began last July when a federal grand jury indicted Ramos on one count of making a false statement. The charges quickly expanded in August with a five-count superseding indictment alleging conspiracy to make false statements, three counts of making false statements during firearm purchases, and illegally transferring a firearm to someone outside of Oklahoma. Prosecutors ultimately dismissed the additional charges as part of a plea agreement.
Evidence presented at sentencing revealed Ramos repeatedly falsified ATF Form 4473 documents – the standard form required for all firearm purchases. Ramos claimed he wasn’t buying the “assault-style” firearms for anyone else, but investigators quickly proved him a liar. Hours after one purchase in Oklahoma City, law enforcement pulled over an individual found in possession of the weapon. The second fraudulent purchase occurred in Luther, Oklahoma.
Judge Friot didn’t mince words, citing the seriousness of the offense and the dangerous nature of the weapons involved when handing down the 30-month sentence. Beyond the prison term, Ramos will also face three years of supervised release upon his eventual release. The ATF Form 4473, crucial to preventing illegal gun trafficking, requires buyers to truthfully answer questions about the intended use and ownership of the firearm.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsie A. Pratt and Jacquelyn Hutzell prosecuted the case, highlighting its inclusion in Project Safe Neighborhoods – a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through targeted enforcement strategies. The program, revived in 2017, seeks to leverage lessons learned from its initial launch in 2001.
This case underscores the ATF’s commitment to cracking down on straw purchases and illegal firearm transfers. The agency routinely investigates individuals who attempt to circumvent gun laws, ensuring that weapons don’t fall into the hands of those prohibited from possessing them. Further details can be found in public court records.
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