LARGE SCALE COCAINE DISTRIBUTOR ARRESTED FOLLOWING FOUR MONTH INVESTIGATION

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today the arrest of an alleged wholesale cocaine distributor following a four month joint investigation with the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor.

Miguel Ramirez, 44, of 2030 Valentine Avenue, the Bronx, has been charged with multiple counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th degrees. The most serious charges are Class A-I and A-II felony offenses punishable by maximum sentences of 8 to 20 years imprisonment and 3 to 10 years imprisonment respectively for non-predicate offenders.

Ramirez allegedly sold approximately 1250 grams (one and a quarter kilos) of cocaine to an undercover detective on three separate occasions during the course of the investigation. The first sale occurred on March 29, 2005. The defendant allegedly was paid $2,500 for a little over two ounces of cocaine. A second “undercover buy” occurred on April 18, 2005 when more than four ounces of cocaine were purchased for $3,750. A third delivery of a kilo of cocaine was arranged for June 9, 2005. The defendant, according to court papers, informed the undercover detective that the weight was a little short, approximately 900 grams of cocaine that would cost $23,500. All three transactions occurred in a parked car in front of 1065 Jerome Avenue where Ramirez was arrested following the third and final sale. The defendant’s automobile was seized and the “buy money” $23,500 in cash was recovered.

Mr. Johnson thanked Bronx DA Detective Investigators for their efforts in developing the case; Chief Stephen Nasta, Deputy Chief Frank Viggiano, Lieutenant Rocco Galasso, Senior Detective Investigator Daniel Donovan, and Detective Investigators Larry Hinrichs, Modesto Acevedo, John Tierney, Bradford Waterman, Anthony Rambazis, Brian O’Loughlin, and Walter Lopez. Mr. Johnson also acknowledged Detective Investigators “John Doe” and Thomas Devine from the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor.

The case is being prosecuted by the Rackets Bureau of the Bronx DA Investigations Division.