Springdale man pleads guilty, sentenced for recruiting minor to join gang
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A Springdale man pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Monday to multiple charges including helping solicit a minor to join a gang, according to court documents.
Marco Ramirez, 21, was arrested on Oct. 5, 2023, for being an accomplice to soliciting or recruiting a minor to join or to remain a member of a criminal gang, organization or enterprise charge.
Ramirez pleaded guilty to that charge along with committing a terroristic act, fleeing in a vehicle and fleeing on foot charges, according to a sentencing order. He was sentenced to 20 years at the Arkansas Department of Corrections with 10 years suspended.
The terroristic act charge was related to a shooting that took place at a McDonald’s on Joyce Boulevard in Fayetteville in April 2022, according to Washington County Prosecutor Matt Durrett.
His two-day trial was set to begin on May 1.
The arrest of a Springdale man raises questions in the community about gangs
Court documents said that on or between April 1 and April 30, 2023, Ramirez participated in beating a child with his fists as part of a gang initiation.
Washington County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Denis Dean confirmed that Marco Ramirez is the brother of Rogelio Ramirez, who was arrested in July 2023 on accomplice to soliciting or recruiting a minor to join or to remain a member of a criminal gang, organization or enterprise and simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm charges.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in an October 2023 social media post that Rogelio Ramirez is the alleged leader Savage Locos Street Gang.
According to an affidavit, a detective with the WCSO was investigating the Savage Locos gang in Springdale in May 2023.
A video filmed on April 7 was found on Rogelio’s phone which had been searched during a warrant that showed a gang ritual.
The video showed Marco and another person “brutally attacking a juvenile with their fists in an identified backyard in Springdale,” the affidavit said.
After the attack, the men and the juveniles engaged in a celebration and exchanged messages such as “savage to the grave.” The attack was identified as a “beat-in” by investigators.
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Rogelio Ramirez pleaded not guilty in August 2023 and has a June 4 court date.
Sebastian Martinez, 20, of Springdale, was also arrested in connection to the gang on Sept. 29. He’s accused as an accomplice to soliciting a minor to join a gang.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on April 26 to six years in prison with three years suspended.
A former employee with the Washington County Juvenile Detention Center was accused of providing Rogelio Ramirez with information.
Clara Garcia, 31, of Fayetteville was arrested on June 23.
Tad Sours, a spokesperson for Washington County, said that Garcia was officially terminated on June 27.
Sours said that Garcia was first hired with the JDC in December 2017 before voluntarily leaving in March 2021. She was rehired with the JDC in December 2021 before being transferred to work in Judge Stacey Zimmerman’s juvenile court on March 1, 2023.
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