A Springdale man has plead guilty to charges of soliciting a minor to join a gang. Rogelio Ramirez, 29, admitted to enticing multiple minors from various schools in Northwest Arkansas to become part of the Savage Locos street gang. The court’s decision came after investigative reports revealed incriminating messages on Ramirez’s social media accounts. The messages indicated that Ramirez was actively recruiting minors and held a leadership position within the gang. Authorities suspect that Ramirez was either the leader or a high-ranking member of the Savage Locos street gang, as evidenced by the statements made in the affidavit, where he claimed that minors in the gang were lifelong members who could not leave, even if it meant death. As part of his sentence, Ramirez received six years in prison with a two-year suspension and a fine of ,000. This verdict follows the conviction of his brother, Marco Ramirez, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison with a ten-year suspension, also for gang-related activities. The brothers are accused of participating in violent gang rituals, including a video recording of them brutally beating a minor during a gang initiation. The case led to the investigation and arrest of another individual, Sebastian Martinez, who was charged with soliciting minors to join a gang. Martinez was sentenced to six years in prison with three years suspended. Additionally, Clara Garcia, a former employee at the Washington County Juvenile Detention Center, was arrested for allegedly providing information to Rogelio Ramirez. The increased arrests and sentences for gang activities have raised concerns within the Springdale community. Authorities continue to crack down on criminal gangs in Northwest Arkansas.
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