Opinion ID: 30576
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Ramirez’s claims

Text: Central to Ramirez’s conviction was the jury’s conclusion that he knew the marijuana was hidden in the trucks on his transport. During closing arguments, counsel for Ramirez argued that the government was prosecuting Ramirez despite knowing that he was innocent: Why is the government trying to bring in information like that [referring to small details of events surrounding the arrest] or trying to stick that in your mind. Because they don’t have anything else. Because they know Fredi [Ramirez] didn’t know also, but they want to prosecute somebody. [Agent] Perez wants a conviction. Fredi did not know there was marijuana in that trailer. The Assistant U.S. Attorney’s (“AUSA”) response included the following: Do the agents have any reason? Do they have a reason to throw away their career, to say, oh this load is just too much for me, I’m going to give up my twenty-year law enforcement career, because I really care that two people get convicted. They’re there to testify to the truth. They enforce the laws and they’re going to honor it. And they’re going to say, these are the facts.