Man gets 12 years for ramming Border Patrol vehicle

November 29, 2011 7:21 PM

Jared Taylor

The Monitor

McALLEN — A judge sent a Mexican national to prison after he rammed a Border Patrol vehicle during a high-speed chase.

U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced Martin Gonzalez Ramirez, 40, to 12 years in federal prison after a May 25 chase near Rio Grande City.

U.S. Border Patrol agents attempted to stop Gonzalez as he sped north from the Rio Grande. He cut through a convenience store parking lot and rammed a Border Patrol vehicle before his truck broke down about 500 yards from the collision.

Agents detained Gonzalez after a foot chase where he attempted to take an agent's gun. No injuries resulted from the crash or chases.

Agents found about 317 pounds of marijuana stashed in the pickup truck he drove. He later admitted he'd been hired to move the pot from the river to a stash house in Hidalgo County.

Gonzalez pleaded guilty in July.

At Tuesday's sentencing hearing, Crane considered Gonzalez's prior criminal record, which included felony marijuana possession and assaulting a peace officer.

Gonzalez will remain in custody until he is transferred to federal prison.

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