Victim Rescued After Texting 911
BOISE – Emiliano Jaime Ramos, 41, of Lompoc, California, was sentenced to federal prison today for kidnapping his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint and then transporting her to Idaho where she was eventually rescued by police.
According to court records, on December 21, 2022, Ramos approached the victim in the parking lot of the clinic where she worked as a medical assistant in Pismo Beach, California. The victim and Ramos had previously dated, and following their breakup, the victim refused to meet with Ramos and blocked him from her social media accounts and had blocked his phone number. When the victim entered her vehicle to leave, Ramos opened the back passenger door and jumped into the seat behind her. He then reached around the driver’s seat and pressed a handgun into her right side, leading her to believe she was going to be shot. Ramos then ordered her to drive north, and she complied.
Ramos, who was in possession of a large knife in addition to the firearm, compelled the victim to drive from California to Nevada, Oregon, and eventually to Nampa, Idaho, where Ramos checked them into a hotel. Later, when Ramos was fully asleep, the victim grabbed her cell phone, which had been sitting on a nightstand, and turned it on. She quickly sent a text message to 911, before turning the phone off and placing it back on the nightstand. Once the 911 message was received, Nampa police officers were dispatched to the hotel, where they quickly worked to assemble a team of officers to conduct a rescue. During the morning of December 23, 2022, Ramos was arrested by police as he exited the hotel room. During the kidnapping, Ramos sexually assaulted the victim and told her that he intended to kill her in Idaho.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Ramos to 15 years in a federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Ramos pleaded guilty to the crime on August 17, 2023.
“The bravery of the victim in this case is powerful and I salute the law enforcement officers who rescued her and brought the defendant to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am also grateful to the victim specialists at the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office and my office who have supported and will continue to support the courageous victim in this case.”
In addition to the Nampa Police Department, U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Idaho State Police Forensic Services, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Lab, Idaho Department of Correction, the Pismo Beach Police Department, and the Santa Maria Police Department, which led to the charges.