A Montebello parolee with a lengthy rap sheet pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal narcotics and weapons charges stemming from a traffic stop in which he was found in possession of more than 10 pounds of drugs, various weapons and $20,000 in cash.
Ramon Enciso, 45, entered his plea in Los Angeles federal court to one count each of possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Enciso could be sentenced to life in federal prison, but prosecutors agreed not to ask for more than about 27 years as part of the plea deal, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Schwab told the court.
U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson set a Feb. 8 sentencing hearing.
Schwab listed more than a dozen of Enciso’s previous convictions dating back to 1992 for drug possession and sales, weapons charges and domestic violence.
In the current case, Enciso was stopped by Montebello police July 13 at the wheel of a speeding car. An officer noticed a rifle visible next to the driver’s legs, prompting a call for back-up support.
As the officers were getting the driver out of the vehicle, they saw another gun — later determined to be a loaded 9mm assault pistol — wedged under Enciso’s left leg and the driver’s seat, and found a loaded Glock 22 pistol in his waistband, police said.
The rifle was identified as an AR-15 loaded with a 30-round magazine. A loaded 380-caliber handgun was also found in the driver’s-side door panel, according to police, who also found 10 pounds of methamphetamine, 45 grams of heroin, 31 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of marijuana and about $20,000 in currency.
Police identified Enciso as a Maravilla gang member. He was charged in August in a seven-count indictment that also alleged possession of body armor by a violent felon.
The reference to violence stems from the defendant’s 1998 domestic assault conviction, according to the indictment.
—City News Service