CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury in Corpus Christi has convicted a 39-year-old local man for possessing with the intent to distribute narcotics, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The jury deliberated for less than two hours before convicting Jason Ramirez following a two-day trial.
The jury heard that on Feb. 29, 2020, law enforcement pursued Ramirez after he failed to yield at a stop sign. He soon crashed into a concrete fountain at a nearby park and fled on foot. Shortly after, they discovered Ramirez in a nearby neighborhood and arrested him.
At the time of arrest, authorities discovered a pistol and meth in Ramirez’s vehicle. A subsequent search of his phone revealed messages regarding the selling of drugs as well as pictures of Ramirez posing with the firearm.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that the gun and meth in the car did not belong to Ramirez. However, they saw video evidence of Ramirez fleeing from the vehicle and footage showing the discovery of the weapon and the narcotics. The jury did not believe defense claims and convicted him as charged.
U.S. District Judge Nelva G. Ramos presided over trial and set sentencing for Aug. 2. At that time, Rodriguez faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
Ramirez will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roland Swanson and Dennis Robinson are prosecuting the case.