By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC-Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN NY Mag
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 19 – Katia Ramos was arrested on charges ranging from narcotics conspiracy to, later, participation in an attempted armed robbery and bank and wire fraud. She became a cooperator.
She has three children. But when the government intercepted her text message that in her proffer session she had "put in a little extra," she was no longer valuable to them as a witness. They refused to give the promised 5K1.1 cooperator's letter. So Ramos faced 17 years.
On April 19, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge P. Kevin Castel held the sentencing proceeding. Inner City Press covered, as the only media in the courtroom - the only person in the gallery other than Ramos' mother and three children.
The US Attorney's Office decided to withdraw some of the charges that Ramos had pleaded guilty to, leaving a five year mandatory minimum.
Ramos' lawyer from Crowell & Moring (listed in the docket as both CJA and pro bono) argued effectively for the five years. And Judge Castel, noting how sad the case was, imposed that minimum: five years.
In the gallery Ramos' mother exhaled, and held up five fingers to her children.
They knew they was good news. Judge Castel allowed her a visit, as permitted by the Marshals, with her children, and recommended Danbury.
The case is US v. Ramos, 19-cr-692 (Castel)
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