A 65-year-old trucker from New Jersey was last week found guilty in federal court of drug trafficking charges in connection with an arrest a year ago for hauling crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl valued at some $2.2 million.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on Oct. 29, David Jusino Ramirez, a 65-year-old New Jersey resident, was convicted after a five-day jury trial before United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion.
According to a statement from Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, evidence presented at trial showed Jusino Ramirez worked as a commercial truck driver who, in addition to legitimate cargo, transported illegal drugs from California to Pennsylvania as part of a drug trafficking organization.
On Oct. 8, 2020, Jusino Ramirez and Julio Romero-Mancebo drove a tractor-trailer that contained over 120 kilograms of 100% pure crystal methamphetamine and 3 kilograms of fentanyl from Montebello, California to a truck stop near Hazelton, Pennsylvania. There they met with Emmanual Roman-Figueroa and delivered the methamphetamine to him in exchange for $28,000 in cash.
The three men were arrested by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration along with officers from the Pennsylvania State Police and the Hazelton Police Department.
The jury found Jusino Ramirez guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and more than 400 grams of fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and more than 400 grams of fentanyl. His codefendants previously pled guilty to felony drug trafficking charges and are awaiting sentencing.