FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
SUNNY RAY RAMIREZ PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on December 3, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, SUNNY RAY RAMIREZ, age 27, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute in a public housing facility, distribution of marijuana in a public housing facility, and distribution of marijuana to a person under the age of 21. Sentencing is set for March 20, 2008. She is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On December 23, 2006, officers of the Chippewa Cree Tribal Law Enforcement Services of the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation (hereafter the Rocky Boy's Police) arrested several juveniles for possessing marijuana. They learned that one of the juveniles, CN, had purchased marijuana on that date at RAMIREZ'S home, which is located in a public housing complex on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.
On December 23, 2006, officers executed a search warrant on RAMIREZ'S home. They recovered approximately 92 grams of marijuana and paraphernalia associated with the distribution of marijuana. RAMIREZ and her brother were present in the home at the time of the search. RAMIREZ and her brother were arrested at the scene of the search.
On December 25, 2006, RAMIREZ was interviewed and admitted that she had been selling marijuana since the beginning of December of 2006. She also stated that her brother was aware that she was involved in the distribution of marijuana.
On December 27, 2007, the authorities interviewed CN. CN stated that he had previously purchased marijuana from RAMIREZ'S brother at RAMIREZ'S residence during the time period of December 1, 2006 to December 24, 2006.
On December 29, 2006, another juvenile, MW, informed the authorities that he had purchased marijuana from RAMIREZ in December 2007. He stated that the sales occurred at RAMIREZ'S residence.
A chemical analysis of the marijuana seized from RAMIREZ residence found that the substance seized consisted of more than five grams of a substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance.
RAMIREZ faces possible penalties of a mandatory 1 year in prison and could be sentenced to 10 years in prison, a $500,000 fine and 4 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph E. Thaggard prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the Tri-Agency Drug Task Force.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
