A drug trafficker found with more than 1,000 grams of heroin on him, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, with parole eligibility after 8 years. Detectives with the Regional Narcotics Units arrested Jose Ramirez (dob 5/6/02) in October of last year, following three separate controlled drug buys from him between September and October.
Ramirez was stopped on October 31, 2025, after he was speeding on I-80 near Gold Ranch. A police K9 conducted a free air sniff of the truck and gave a positive alert to drugs inside. A search of the truck recovered 1,014 grams of heroin, which equates to 5,070 individual doses. Additional searches both of Ramirez himself and his home uncovered more than 18 grams of methamphetamine. Detectives estimated the total street value for the heroin at $132,602 and the total street value of the methamphetamine at almost $500.
During sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Michael Vieta-Kabell recommended the lengthy sentence of 20 years, citing the danger to the community that heroin trafficking presents. The Honorable Scott Freeman presided and imposed the sentence.
