Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On Jan. 26, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment against Gilbert Ramirez, 25, and Michael Valentino Lovato, 33, both of Sacramento, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

The indictment was unsealed today following the arrest of both defendants.

According to court documents, from April through July 2022, Ramirez and Lovato worked with each other and others to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and over 400 grams of fentanyl in Sacramento County. On at least five separate occasions, Ramirez and Lovato distributed fentanyl.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Sacramento Police Department; and the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily G. Sauvageau is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine for the conspiracy charge, plus additional penalties for the distribution and possession charges. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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