Previously convicted child sex offender from Mexico sentenced to 4 years in prison for illegally reentering US

HOUSTON – A 40-year-old Mexican man who was previously convicted of multiple sex offenses on a 7-year-old, and was removed from the country in 2013, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, Aug. 16.

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Houston, Texas, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Martin Mejia Ramos, aka Ricardo Morales Rodriguez and Martin Jose Romes-Ramirez, pleaded guilty May 10, 2019, to illegally reentering the United States following an aggravated felony conviction.

Mejia Ramos is expected to face removal proceedings following completion of his prison sentence.

At the hearing, the court heard that in 2007, Ramos was convicted in Los Angeles, California, for continuous sexual abuse and lewd act upon a child. He was ordered to serve six years in prison and required to register as a sex offender for life. He was removed from the country in 2013.

In that case, Ramos had engaged in more than three sexual acts with a 7-year-old with whom he was residing. The victim claimed Ramos had touched her vagina on multiple occasions and exposed himself to her. A physical examination revealed irritation in her vagina. His hair was also found in that area. Ramos had told her not to tell anyone and threatened to hit her if she did. 

Ramos had six other convictions, three of which were driving under the influence of alcohol. In one instance, he caused a traffic accident with two other vehicles. His blood alcohol was more than twice the legal limit. 

Ramos illegally reentered the United States Dec. 31, 2015. On Jan. 30, 2019, authorities discovered Ramos in New Caney during a traffic stop, at which time he provided a false address. The investigation later revealed his residence was near a community swimming pool, elementary school, middle school, high school and nursery school.          

Ramos has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman prosecuted the case.