Mexican Mafia captain is sentenced to 18 years
Web Posted: 06/02/2005 12:00 AM CDT

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/mexico ... 78134.html

Guillermo Contreras
Express-News Staff Writer

As the Texas Mexican Mafia's No. 3 man outside prison, Jesse "Chuy" Ramirez helped run the prison gang's show.

But because he made the government's job easier by pleading guilty to a drug charge instead of taking his case to trial, Ramirez, 33, had his sentence significantly cut Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia sentenced the gang captain to 18 years in prison instead of the 30 years to life that federal sentencing guidelines recommended.

Officials regarded Ramirez as the highest-ranking of four alleged gang members that Garcia sent to prison Wednesday. Ramirez's sentence of 18 years was guaranteed by his plea in November to conspiracy to traffic more than a kilo of heroin.

"Early on, he said, 'Get me the best deal you can. Make sure I don't rot in prison,'" his attorney, Alex Scharff, said.

With credit for good time, Ramirez would serve 85 percent of his sentence.

Ramirez's name came up repeatedly during the April trial of four co-defendants in the Mafia's drug-trafficking conspiracy.

Gang turncoats referred to Ramirez as a member of "la mesa" and "the house," terms referring to gang leaders who made critical decisions and took control of the money amassed by Mexican Mafia members through the collection of a 10-percent street tax levied on drug dealers.

Ramirez apologized to his family for the hardship he had put them through and said he accepted full responsibility for his actions.

Besides Ramirez, Garcia sentenced Maria Elena "Hela" Flores, 45, to 11 years and three months in prison. Albert Delgado, 23, and Daniel "Dirty Dog" Valles, 41, each received five years and 10 months in prison for their roles in the conspiracy.

The case has 28 defendants and the rest will be sentenced later this month or in July.



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gcontreras@express-news.net