Lidia Ramos#66248-004
Federal Sentence: 10 years mandatory minimum
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 5 kg of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute in excess of 5 kg of cocaine
Court: Southern District of Florida
Priors: Theft to deprive, (9/27/96) involving clothing valued at approximately $48
Date of Sentencing: September 20, 2001
Date of Birth: 1978
Projected Release Date: November 12, 2009
Nature of Offense: Lidia’s involvement is all too typical for women ensnared in drug conspiracies. In love with her boyfriend, Lidia blindly trusted this older man when he asked for a favor. On August 24, 2000 Lidia had finished babysitting his child when he asked her to drive him to a nearby parking lot to get his friend’s car. Although she says she sensed something was wrong from her boyfriend’s erratic behavior, Lidia foolishly agreed and accompanied him to the lot where they found a white Chevy Malibu. Lidia drove it to the house of her boyfriend’s sister while her boyfriend followed in his own vehicle. Lidia arrived first and entered, having known her boyfriend’s sister for some time. Lidia’s boyfriend arrived shortly after and also went inside. But he left first, carrying a large white bag of dog food that he placed in the trunk of the Malibu. Inside was 10 kg of cocaine.
Lidia says she was not aware of the bag’s contents. Nor did she know her boyfriend and his two friends were selling it for $250,000 to two confidential informants (CIs) for the DEA. The informantsw had left the Malibu at the lot of the Pembroke Pine Mall and planned to pick it up later that day as well as buy an additional 40 kg of cocaine in the future.
After her boyfriend drove away in his car, Lidia returned the Malibu to the parking lot where she met her boyfriend’s friend and the two informants. She gave the keys to her boyfriend’s friend, who in turn handed it to the informants, completing the deal. Lidia left the lot with her boyfriend’s friend in his BMW when DEA agents arrested them a few minutes later. Agents also recovered the Malibu and found 9.99 kg of cocaine in the dog food bag. Lydia was the only person in the conspiracy to go to trial. A jury found her guilty of both counts, and she was sentenced to the mandatory minimum of 10 years.
Guideline Sentence: Lidia’s drug amount, 9.99 kg of cocaine, warrants a base offense level of 32. She received a 2-point reduction for her minor role in the offense, giving her a total offense level of 30. With a criminal history category of I, her guideline range was 97 to 121 months. However, the mandatory minimum of 120 months (10 years) overrides the guidelines. Lidia was denied the safety valve because DEA agents testified that she confessed to knowing cocaine was in the trunk. Her attorney was not present during this interview.
Sentences of Others Involved: The two leaders of the conspiracy—one of whom was Lidia’s boyfriend—were never arrested, according to Lidia. Her boyfriend is now a fugitive. Her boyfriend’s friend, who was arrested with Lidia and helped broker the deal, pleaded guilty, was released on bond, and is also now a fugitive. The indictment against her boyfriend’s sister was dismissed and she is currently free.
Personal Background: Lidia was born in Cuba and immigrated to the U.S. in 1991 with her parents and three sisters. Her twin sister lives with her husband and children in Miami, Florida while Lidia’s two older sisters still reside in the south Florida area. The family remains very close and maintains their support for Lidia. A graduate of high school, Lidia was unemployed at the time of her arrest, though she found work before sentencing.
Lidia did not harbor any drug or alcohol problems prior to her arrest except for occasional marijuana use. Her biggest mistake was falling in love with her boyfriend. She knew he had dealt drugs but turned a blind eye because she was in love, even letting him convince her that he had quit dealing.
Lidia has remained committed to redeeming her past mistakes while in prison. She has completed a 40-hour drug abuse program as well as classes in legal research, parenting, real estate, and Microsoft, among others. In addition she has taken classes from Tallahassee Community College and is currently enrolled at Frederick Community College.
Complied from PSR, appellate brief, Court of Appeals decision, and inmate information.
8/17/04 JC