Self-proclaimed gang member sentenced for drug charges, violent carjackings

The 26-year-old man was arrested in January 2019.

A Federal Way man was sentenced on Dec. 3 for drug charges and two violent attempted carjackings in 2019.

Ivan Lopez-Ramos, 26, was sentenced in King County Superior County to 39.75 months for the attempted robbery and 12 months for the conspiracy to commit a violation of the Uniformed Controlled Substances Act, which is the maximum with his criminal history set by lawmakers. The sentences will be served concurrently, documents state.

Police said Lopez-Ramos is a self-identified gang member dealing large quantities of heroin in Federal Way.

On Jan. 2, 2019, Lopez-Ramos and a passenger were attempting to flee the area in a silver Corvette near the 2600 block of 296th Place after seeing a Federal Way officer.

The officer followed the Corvette onto Military Road South when the vehicle crossed into the opposite lane of traffic and crashed into a Honda CRV. Lopez-Ramos, who was driving the Corvette, and the passenger exited the vehicle and attempted to carjack a nearby Honda Odyssey van.

When unsuccessful, Lopez-Ramos and the passenger ran to an occupied Dodge Grand Caravan and attempted to carjack the vehicle using force, fighting with the driver. The Federal Way officer was able to pull Lopez-Ramos from the vehicle.

When Lopez-Ramos resisted arrest, the officer struck and kicked him, and attempted a Lateral Vascular Neck Restraint, before calling on nearby citizens for help in restraining him. Two Seattle Police officers passing by also assisted with the arrest.

Officers discovered the Corvette was stolen out of Lynnwood. Lopez-Ramos’ criminal history includes a felony warrant for attempting to allude police and a felony conviction for assault. He was also considered armed and dangerous.

Lopez-Ramos was taken to the hospital where he was found to have 3.5 grams of meth in his pocket and also removed 1.7 grams of heroin from his rectum.

In an interview with police, Lopez-Ramos stated he was guilty of the day’s events. Upon searching the Corvette, police recovered over 17 ounces of heroin and drug paraphernalia. The passenger’s cell phone —used for drug transactions — was also found in the vehicle.