Uriel Ramirez-Manzanares, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Arkansas 2021

In a shocking move, Uriel Ramirez-Manzanares, a 40-year-old California man, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance methamphetamine in Arkansas.

The sentencing hearing took place in the U.S. District Court in Hot Springs, Arkansas, presided over by Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey. This marks a significant blow to the growing methamphetamine trade in the region.

According to court documents, on March 16, 2021, Arkansas State Police (ASP) Troopers initiated a traffic stop on a passenger vehicle operated by Ramirez-Manzanares. After determining that he did not have a valid driver’s license, a vehicle inventory was conducted prior to the vehicle being towed.

The inventory resulted in Troopers locating and seizing a black bag that contained suspected narcotics and a blue bag that contained approximately $11,084.00 of United States currency. The ASP Troopers subsequently requested the assistance of agents from the 18th East Drug Task Force.

During an interview with Ramirez-Manzanares, he admitted that he knew the vehicle contained narcotics and that he was aware of the presence of the United States Currency. Further, Ramirez-Manzanares stated that he was in-route to Hot Springs, Arkansas, to deliver the narcotics and money to an area drug dealer. Further, Ramirez-Manzanares also advised that he had delivered drugs to the Hot Springs area on at least two (2) previous occasions.

One package of suspected narcotics was determined to be 420.94 grams of pure methamphetamine by the Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory. The other packages of narcotics were submitted to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory and determined to be approximately 214 grams of Fentanyl.

U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement, highlighting the collaborative efforts of local law enforcement agencies in bringing Ramirez-Manzanares to justice.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Achorn prosecuted the case, ensuring that Ramirez-Manzanares faces the full extent of the law for his crimes.

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