A Mexican citizen has been handed a substantial prison sentence after being convicted for his role in a drug trafficking scheme that sought to distribute more than 17 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Conroe area, just north of Houston, as announced by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Alberto Ramos-Nogueda, 36, was found guilty of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute by a federal jury and sentenced to 210 months, according to a recent press release from the Department of Justice.
During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake emphasized the impactful role Ramos-Nogueda played in the operation by participating in the distribution of a substantial quantity of meth which poses significant risks to the community, placing him in federal prison for nearly 18 years, and after serving his term, Ramos-Nogueda, who is not a U.S. citizen, will possibly face deportation proceedings. The conviction stemmed from an incident in May 2022 when law enforcement surveilled a hotel in North Houston and witnessed Ramos-Nogueda and Hector Hernandez-Velasquez, who has pleaded guilty and awaits his own sentencing, handling a large box believed to contain meth and later attempting, but failing to evade police when approached.
The coordinated effort between Houston Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Conroe Police Department, led to a car chase and a manhunt in the woods that resulted in both suspects' capture and the seizure of a sizeable shipment of meth—over 17 kilograms—destined to wreak havoc in communities north of Houston. Ultimately, the swift response by authorities thwarted what could have been a significant influx of narcotics, with "Seventeen kilos of crystal meth is a lot of deadly meth for any size city," as Hamdani's statement poignantly noted, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Hernandez-Velasquez, 49, is currently detained and will face up to life in prison with the possibility of a $10 million fine upon sentencing in October, the details of which echo the gravity of the offense and the potential impact on the community. As for the convicted Ramos-Nogueda, he will remain in custody until he is transferred to a federal prison.
