KEY POINTS
A 33-year-old Cuban national, Pedro Cesar Ramos-Cruz, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for leading a human smuggling operation, illegally reentering the country, and unlawfully possessing firearms. The sentence was handed down after an investigation revealed his repeated illegal entries into the United States and his connection to the Gulf Cartel while smuggling individuals from multiple countries.
Details of the Smuggling Operation
The case against Ramos-Cruz began to unfold following a traffic stop by the Florida Highway Patrol. According to court documents, officers discovered a collection of incriminating evidence in his vehicle, including a ledger detailing human smuggling activities, 20 foreign passports, $13,709 in U.S. currency, narcotics, and several stolen firearms.
Subsequent investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) confirmed that Ramos-Cruz was smuggling individuals from Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Columbia. The investigation also revealed that he had been previously deported from the United States on two separate occasions, once in 2019 and again in 2020.
Multi-Agency Investigation and Response
Officials emphasized the collaborative nature of the investigation and the danger posed by the defendant. “This case started with a traffic stop and culminated in taking a dangerous Gulf Cartel-linked human smuggler off our streets,” said Mark Glass, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), praising the cross-jurisdictional teamwork.
HSI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno stated that Ramos-Cruz showed a consistent pattern of criminal behavior. “Ramos-Cruz repeatedly violated our nation’s laws, possessed stolen firearms and narcotics, and smuggled human beings with a complete disregard for their safety,” Ingegno said.
U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin framed the conviction as a significant achievement for law enforcement efforts. He noted that the case exemplifies the success of “Operation Take Back America” by stopping an individual who not only entered the country illegally but also endangered communities by working with a cartel and trafficking others with stolen weapons.
Consequences and Deportation
Ramos-Cruz was convicted of Conspiracy to Bring Aliens into the United States, Illegal Reentry by a Removed Alien, and Possession of a Firearm by an Alien. Following the completion of his decade-long prison sentence, he will face further legal action.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged an official detainer against him. This ensures that upon his release from federal prison, he will be transferred to ICE custody to face deportation proceedings and be removed from the United States for a third time.
