Former Guatemalan mayor Romeo Ramos Cruz, 57, made his first appearance in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after being extradited from Guatemala on Aug. 4, officials announced this week.
Ramos Cruz is charged with conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Prosecutors say that from 2022 to 2024, he was a key player in a Guatemala-based drug trafficking network moving cocaine to U.S. markets — all while serving as mayor of Santa Lucia in Guatemala’s Escuintla Department.
Ramos Cruz is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Court records allege Ramos Cruz abused his office to smooth the way for smuggling operations, using his political influence to coordinate the transport of drug shipments.
In one case, he allegedly helped disguise cocaine from Venezuela as a cement delivery and drafted an official municipal letter to shield the load from inspection by Guatemalan authorities.
If convicted, he faces up to life in federal prison.