Lancaster woman sentenced to 40 months in prison for role in cocaine trafficking plot

LANCASTER, Pa. — A Lancaster woman will serve up to 40 months in prison following her conviction on cocaine trafficking charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Friday.

Moniqua Ramirez, 44, was sentenced during a recent hearing before U.S. District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson. She was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine last November, according to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam.

According to law enforcement authorities, Ramirez conspired with others to smuggle kilograms of cocaine into central Pennsylvania via the U.S. mail.

The cocaine was shipped to Puerto Rico and mailed to various drop-off points in Lancaster, where the packages were picked up by the conspirators for further distribution, Karam said. The conspirators also engaged in street drug trafficking, including selling heroin and fentanyl to customers.

Money from drug sales was repatriated to Puerto Rico to pursue other trafficking activities, Karam said.

Ramirez's co-conspirators Jonathan Lopez Arizmendi, Ricardo Soto, Ricky Sanchez, Angel Leon-Rivera, Omar Carmenaty Morales and Lucas Doel Gonzalez-Alvarado have all pleaded guilty, according to Karam.

They were sentenced as follows:

• Jonathan Arizmendi was sentenced to 150 months in prison
• Ricardo Soto was sentenced to 46 months in prison
• Ricky Sanchez was sentenced to 36 months in prison
• Lucas Doel Gonzalez-Alvarado was sentenced to 97 months in prison

Angel Leon-Rivera and Omar Carmenaty Morales are awaiting sentencing, Karam said.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Pennsylvania State Police, United States Postal Inspection Service, Task Force Lancaster County Drug Task Force and the York County Drug Task Force.