United States Drug Enforcement Administration

FRESNO, Calif. - A federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment today against Omar Manuel Ramirez, 34, of Fresno, charging him with conspiracy to distribute marijuana, manufacture of marijuana, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin announced. 

According to court documents, Ramirez grew marijuana in Fresno County and shipped it to states around the country, including Illinois, Virginia, and North Carolina. Ramirez’s customers deposited their payments for the marijuana into a bank account in Ramirez’s name.  Typically within a day, Ramirez withdrew the deposits in Fresno.  Over the course of two and a half years, Ramirez and co-conspirators used this technique to launder more than $800,000 in proceeds from selling marijuana.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ross Pearson is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Ramirez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $5,000,000 fine.  Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.  The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.