An illegal immigrant from Mexico was sentenced to 10 months

An illegal immigrant from Mexico, who was carrying a loaded shotgun when he got into a scuffle with U.S. Border Patrol Agents in Orleans County last fall, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison on Friday. Ciro Ramirez, 35, of North Carolina, received a prison term after pleading guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by an individual who was unlawfully in the United States. The judge said the case escalated when Ramirez opted to get into a physical confrontation with the Border Patrol instead of just surrendering peacefully. “It’s the firearm that escalated the incident,” the judge said. Following a brief conversation, a physical altercation ensued between the initial responding agent and Ramirez. Additional federal agents responded, and after restraining Ramirez, they found a shotgun in his car, along with methamphetamine, brass knuckles, a knife and ammunition, including a 30-round AR-15 magazine and 103 rounds of shotgun ammunition. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig called the incident “incredibly dangerous conduct” and noted the defendant wasn’t interested in surrendering. Stendig said he was willing to go with a 10-month sentence. “He did not go quietly,” Stendig said. He said in his sentencing motion that a prison term and deportation “would send a message to other aliens that illegally entering the United States entails risks greater than simply being sent back.” Immigration officials have filed a detainer against him in an effort to have Ramirez removed from the country once his prison term is up.  It was also agreed to recommend Ramirez serve the remainder of his sentence at the federal prison in Berlin, N.H. He also assessed $100 in court costs.