The fifth defendant in Teton County cocaine trafficking ring sentenced

A three-year investigation into cocaine trafficking in Teton and surrounding counties concluded with the final defendant being sentenced. Jose Junior Ramos, 32, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was sentenced to 95 months' imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and three counts of distributing cocaine. Ramos was indicted on May 21, 2025, pleaded guilty on Oct. 30, 2025, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 6 in Cheyenne.

According to court documents, in November 2023, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Southwest Enforcement Team began an investigation into a cocaine drug trafficking organization that was operating in and around Jackson, Wyoming. Through the investigation, agents learned that Ramos and other people were responsible for trafficking multiple pounds of cocaine from Phoenix, Arizona to Lincoln and Teton Counties in Wyoming and Bonneville and Teton Counties in Idaho.

In April 2025, investigators stopped Ramos's vehicle as it was driving back from Phoenix, Arizona and located three kilograms of cocaine in the vehicle. In the Defendant's residence, investigators discovered over a dozen firearms and bulk cash.

In total, the conspiracy was found culpable for trafficking just under ten kilograms, or 22 pounds, of cocaine. DCI, DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Teton County Sheriff's Office (Idaho), and the Idaho State Police investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Case No. 25-CR-00082

"This was part of a multi-agency collaboration dedicated to dismantling transnational criminal organizations responsible for drug trafficking," said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. "Through sustained cooperation, we are reducing the number of drugs coming into Wyoming."

Ramos is the fifth defendant in this conspiracy convicted in federal court. The others include:

• Saul Andrew Garcia, 26, of Irwin, Idaho, was sentenced to120 months' imprisonment with five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and three counts of distribution of cocaine. He was sentenced on Jan. 15, 2026. Case No. 25-CR-00082
  
• Cesar Antancio Torres-Cazares, 36, of La Piedad, Michoacan, Mexico, was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and time served for illegal reentry into the United States. He will be deported following his imprisonment. He was sentenced on March 26, 2025. Case Nos. 25-CR-00055 and 25-CR-00056.
  
• Marlon Forrest, 29, of Port Maria, Jamaica, was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison with three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine. He was sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025. Case No. 24-CR-00038
  
• Oneil Anthony Findley, of Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica, was sentenced to 68 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, use of a communication facility to facilitate a felony drug offense and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced on April 11, 2025. Case no. 24-CR-00131

"If you are a bad actor poisoning our kids and weakening our communities-don't even get on our roads-because we are coming for you and we are going to lock you up," said Smith.

This operation is part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).