CHICAGO (CBS) — Jose Ramirez-Arellano, 33, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after attempting to traffic cocaine from California to Chicago, according to the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
Ramirez-Arellano, who pleaded guilty to a federal drug charge last year, was sentenced on January 17 in federal court in Chicago.
In February 2022, Ramirez-Arellano arranged to receive a package containing five kilograms of cocaine to be shipped from Southern California to his Chicago residence. The shipment was intercepted by authorities, who replaced the cocaine with a fake substance and allowed it to be delivered to the home.
After receiving the package, Ramirez-Arellano transported it to a downtown hotel, where he was arrested.
A federal investigation revealed that Ramirez-Arellano had also received a second shipment of five kilograms of cocaine within the same month, and authorities seized two additional parcels containing $43,550 in cash.
Ramirez-Arellano’s arrest and conviction are part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking across the country.