Ramos-Oseguera
United States v. Ramos-Oseguera
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Boochever, J.
Julio Ramos-Oseguera (Ramos) and Sote-ro Ramos-Oseguera (Sotero) were convicted of a conspiracy to sell heroin in addition to many individual counts of heroin sales. Ramos was also convicted of Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE). At that same trial, Roberto Ramirez (Ramirez) was convicted of a single count of possession of heroin with intent to sell, and Samuel Robles-Lopez (Robles) was convicted of two counts of possessing and distributing heroin. Ramirez and Robles were both acquitted of the conspiracy charge.
Prior to the Ramos trial, Ramos’s wife, Maria Reyes-Sandoval (Reyes), was tried separately. She raised a duress defense, asserting that Ramos had physically and psychologically abused her and forced her to participate in the heroin distribution. She admitted many acts and was acquitted of conspiracy but convicted of several individual counts of heroin distribution. Her appeal has been consolidated with those of the other appellants.
BACKGROUND
A. The Heroin Organization
Appellants Ramos, Sotero, Ramirez, and Robles pleaded not guilty to multiple heroin *1032 distribution offenses and carrying firearms in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Ramos also pleaded not…