A Concord man, Javier Antonio Ramirez, has been slapped with a 20-year prison sentence for using social media to lure minors into sexual acts and producing child pornography. U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Tatum King announced the sentencing after Ramirez's guilty plea to charges of coercion and enticing a minor and receipt of child pornography.
Ramirez, 29, targeted teen girls, pushing drugs like fentanyl and cocaine in exchange for sexual favors, some of which he filmed. The drugs he supplied led to multiple overdoses among the minors, including a non-fatal incident at a high school in Contra Costa County. According to a statement by U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, "Javier Ramirez’s conduct is every parent’s nightmare." Ramsey stressed the disturbing nature of Ramirez providing lethal drugs to minors to facilitate their exploitation.
In his guilty plea, Ramirez admitted to the possession of almost 100 images and videos of child pornography, including those of prepubescent minors and toddlers. U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar handed down the sentence, mandating 240 months imprisonment for coercion and enticement to be served concurrently with 216 months for the receipt of child pornography. He will also have 15 years of supervised release after his prison term.
Special Agent in Charge Tatum King pointed out the severity of the crimes, stating via the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of California press release, "The sentencing of Ramirez to 20 years in prison for coercing and enticing minors to produce child sexual abuse material while admittedly poisoning them with the dangerous narcotics is a stern reminder of the imperative to safeguard our children." This case has been a collaborative effort, resulting from the diligent work of Homeland Security Investigations, the Contra Costa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Lafayette Police Department, and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities are using this case to highlight the dangers of fentanyl, a highly potent opioid that has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the US. Counterfeit pills often contain fentanyl and are made to mimic legal prescription meds, but even slight variances in composition can prove fatal. Resources for online child exploitation prevention and reporting are available at the Department of Homeland Security's website, which includes the iGuardian training program designed to educate kids and caregivers about potential risks on the internet.
