Former King County Jail Guard Sentenced to Over 8 Years for Smuggling Drugs into Facility

Mosses Ramos, a former King County Jail guard, was sentenced to 102 months in prison for accepting a $5,000 bribe.Photo byBen DuttononUnsplash

A former King County Jail guard was sentenced today to more than eight years in federal prison for accepting bribes and smuggling narcotics into the facility, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington announced.

Mosses Ramos, 40, of Milton, Washington, received a 102-month sentence in U.S. District Court in Seattle for his role in bringing one pound of methamphetamine and 100 fentanyl pills into the jail.

Ramos, a jail guard for 18 years, was fired in 2023 after the corruption came to light, the department says.

"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 court documents, between March and May 2023, Ramos accepted a $5,000 bribe from inmates Michael Anthony Barquet, 37, and Francisco Montero, 25, to smuggle the narcotics into the King County Jail.

Both inmates are incarcerated, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Montero is awaiting trial in King County Superior Court for a double homicide, while Barquet is scheduled for trial in April 2025 on drug and bribery charges related to this case, the department says.

The investigation also revealed a network of coconspirators outside the jail who worked with the inmates. Neca Silvestre, 38, of Kent; Katrina Cazares, 38, of Burien; and Kayara Zepeda Montero, 27, of Seattle, have all pleaded guilty to their involvement and are awaiting sentencing, according to the department.

“Impact in our community is built on the foundation of trust, and Mr. Ramos chose to violate that trust,” said Kelly M. Smith, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle office.

“We are grateful for the collaboration with the King County Sheriff’s Office and the King County Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention in holding public servants accountable and keeping drugs out of our correctional facilities.”