King County Correctional Facility in Seattle. COURTESY PHOTO, King County

King County Correctional Facility in Seattle. COURTESY PHOTO, King County

Judge sentences ex-King County guard for bribery to allow drugs into jail

Gets eight years, six months for taking $5,000 bribe to provide drugs to inmates

A former King County jail guard received a prison sentence of eight years and six months for accepting a bribe to bring narcotics into the facility while he worked at the jail.

Inmates paid Mosses Ramos $5,000 to smuggle 1 pound of methamphetamine and 100 fentanyl pills into the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle. Ramos, 40, of Milton, had been a jail guard for 18 years before he was fired last year.

“You betrayed your fellow corrections officers,” U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo S. Martinez told Ramos at his Friday, Oct. 11 sentencing in Seattle, according to an U.S. Department of Justice press release. “You jeopardized the safety of other officers as well as the safety of inmates. … You were smuggling deadly poison into the jail.”

Ramos pleaded guilty May 30 to bribery and distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl pills,

“Corrections officers are critical for operating safe, humane and secure detention facilities,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “In this case Mr. Ramos betrayed the trust placed in him and jeopardized the safety of his colleagues and detainees by smuggling highly addictive and lethal drugs into the jail.”

According to records filed in the case, between March and May 2023, Ramos accepted a $5,000 bribe to bring about a pound of methamphetamine and 100 fentanyl pills into the jail for inmates Michael Anthony Barquet, 37, and Francisco Montero, 25, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Both men are currently incarcerated. Montero is facing trial in King County Superior Court for a double homicide. Barquet is scheduled for trial on drug and bribery charges for this case in April 2025.

The web of bribes and drug trafficking extended outside the jail with three coconspirators who are alleged associates of the two inmates: Neca Silvestre, 38, of Kent; Katrina Cazares, 38, of Burien; and Kayara Zepeda Montero, 27, of Seattle each pleaded guilty in the case and await sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindy Chang asked for a 10-year sentence.

“Ramos has a history of abusing his authority as a long-serving King County corrections officer,” Chang wrote. “For years, he introduced drugs and other contraband into the facility. He disclosed confidential information to inmates. He allowed inmates to assault one another and even expressed a desire for an inmate to be assaulted when he believed the inmate ‘snitched’ on him. Ramos’ unwavering abuse of power before, during, and after the charged offenses is an aggravating factor for his sentence.”

Kelly M. Smith, assistant special agent in charge of FBI Seattle, said Ramos needed to be held accountable.

“Impact in our community is built on the foundation of trust, and Mr. Ramos chose to violate that trust,” Smith said. “We are grateful for the exceptional collaboration with the King County Sheriff’s Office and the King County Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention who share our commitment to holding public servants accountable and keeping drugs out of our correctional facilities. This successful joint investigation demonstrates the commitment by public safety professionals to hold those who violate this trust to the highest standards.”

King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall said such steps must be taken to keep drugs out of jails. The Sheriff’s Office oversees the county jails in Seattle and Kent.

“The Sheriff’s Office is eager to take any steps necessary to help keep fentanyl and other deadly drugs out of our communities, including our jails,” Cole-Tindall said. “We are glad to have played a role in helping the Department of Justice shed light on these egregious and appalling crimes.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Sheriff’s Office with support from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Northwest

Republican Dave Reichert, left, and Democrat Bob Ferguson, right, are competing in Washington’s 2024 governor’s race. (Photos courtesy of campaigns)
Ferguson defeats Reichert in governor’s race | Election 2024

Democrats have won 10 straight gubernatorial contests.

Election workers open mail in a new secure room at Thurston County’s elections office. The county invested in a separate room to open mail after it was sent an envelope containing fentanyl last year. (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)
How one WA county upped security ahead of the election

Thurston County, like others, made changes in response to evolving threats and other concerns around ballot processing.

t
Renton city budget targets public safety, cleanliness, social services

Mayor’s proposal will add eight more police officers over next two years

Courtesy Photo, King County Elections
King County Elections emphasizes safety, security in voting process

Office issues news release in response to ballot drop box fires in Vancouver, Portland

A ballot drop box damaged in a suspected arson incident in Vancouver, Washington, on Oct. 28, 2024. Monika Spykerman/The Columbian/Courtesy of Washington State Standard
Arson destroys hundreds of ballots inside a Washington state drop box

State and federal authorities are investigating a deliberately set fire that destroyed… Continue reading

t
Renton man arrested in Seattle DUI collision that killed 20-year-old

State Patrol arrests 30-year-old man for investigation of vehicular homicide in Oct. 27 Seattle incident

t
Accused Federal Way shoplifter injured after being catapulted by car

See the video: Man struck in intersection while running away.

Two people were transported by helicopter after a three-vehicle crash Oct. 13 on State Route 410 near Enumclaw. Two people died at the scene. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Enumclaw woman, 63, charged after deadly SR 410 crash

Michelle Oster has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault.

t
Suspect in I-5 shootings deemed incompetent to stand trial

Sept. 2 shootings that began in Federal Way. His next court date is Jan. 8.

File photo
Discussion continues for KC Sheriff’s Office search warrant policies

Following a list of policy changes in July, discussion between the Office… Continue reading

Photo courtesy of Anna Tarazevich from Pexels
WA women 9th in nation for breast cancer diagnoses, analysis finds

Washington women were more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer despite… Continue reading