DAYTON, OH – Salvador Ramirez, 24, of West Chester, Ohio, is headed to federal prison for 15 years after being sentenced for his central role in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy. Ramirez, known on the streets as “Listo,” oversaw the distribution of massive quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin throughout Ohio, with the dirty money ultimately making its way south of the border.
U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice handed down the 180-month sentence today, following a federal indictment unsealed in July 2018 that implicated Ramirez and six others in a sprawling operation stretching across the Miami Valley and southern/central Ohio. The case was a joint effort led by Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Ramirez wasn’t just a street-level dealer; he was a key distributor. Investigators proved he repeatedly traveled to the western United States to procure kilogram quantities of narcotics, then funneling them to local dealers. But Ramirez wasn’t acting alone. He was working on behalf of Eduardo Bonilla, a seasoned criminal already serving a life sentence for murder inside an Ohio state prison. Bonilla, demonstrating remarkable audacity, orchestrated the entire operation from his cell.
Bonilla initially relied on help from former cellmates to manage the drug trade and launder the proceeds to Mexico. When those individuals were caught and prosecuted, Bonilla smartly pivoted, recruiting Ramirez to take over the operation. This shows a disturbing level of sophistication – a prison inmate running a cross-border drug ring. The other defendants snared in this investigation include Tamara McQueen, 21, of Hamilton; Luiz Roberto Diaz-Magana, 29, of Queretaro, Mexico; Jesus Garcia, aka Jesse Garcia, 49, of West Chester; Joshua L. Leach, 34, of Plain City; Brandi Danyell Loy, aka Brandi Richey, 34, of Plain City; and Takeea Trammell, 41, of Dayton. All face charges related to manufacturing, distributing methamphetamine, and money laundering.
The scope of this operation is staggering. Authorities seized over 140 pounds of methamphetamine, seven kilograms of fentanyl, two kilograms of heroin, and more than $130,000 in cash across this case and related investigations. A total of 14 individuals have now been charged. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent G. Tabacchi spearheaded the prosecution, with crucial support from a multi-agency task force.
The DEA’s investigation was bolstered by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, and the police departments in Monroe and Middletown. This case serves as a grim reminder that drug trafficking networks are adaptable and persistent, even originating from within the walls of our prisons. The Grimy Times will continue to follow developments in related cases and report on the ongoing fight against the flow of illicit drugs into our communities.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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