MIAMI — A federal jury has convicted three men from South Florida in connection with a murder-for-hire plot that led to a near-fatal shooting in August 2019.
Rolando Ramirez, 52, of Doral, and Rasheed “Fresh” Ali, 39, of Miami, were found guilty on May 21 of multiple federal charges. These include solicitation of a crime of violence (interstate stalking), conspiracy to commit murder for hire, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. A third defendant, Tamrat “Shifta” Mason, 41, also of Miami, was convicted alongside Ramirez and Ali for tampering with the investigation.
According to court documents and testimony presented at trial, Ramirez and the victim, a local businessman, were involved in a legal dispute over business dealings, including a contentious non-compete agreement. After the victim won the lawsuit, Ramirez allegedly made a chilling threat during settlement discussions, stating, “In due time, I will kill you.”
Prosecutors revealed that Ali and Mason had connections with Jaime Serrano, a marijuana distributor based in New York, who owed them a substantial debt. Instead of repaying the debt, Serrano agreed to carry out a contract killing. Serrano testified that Ali identified the target as someone who had “snitched” on him and referred to Ramirez as part of the “Cuban Mafia.”
On August 28, 2019, Serrano and an accomplice, Julian Jimenez, ambushed the victim and shot him multiple times. Fortunately, the victim survived the attack.
Federal investigators later discovered that Ramirez, Ali, and Mason tried to obstruct the investigation and conceal their involvement in the plot. Jimenez ultimately pleaded guilty to interstate stalking and firearm-related charges. Serrano was also found guilty by a federal jury of the same offenses. Jimenez received a 35-year prison sentence, while Serrano was sentenced to 50 years.
Sentencing for Ramirez and Ali is set for September 5 before U.S. District Court Judge Roy K. Altman. Both men face the possibility of a life sentence.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Miami Division with support from the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abbie D. Waxman and Michael Gilfarb of the Southern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne and acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles announced the convictions following the jury’s verdict. While multiple individuals have been found guilty in connection with this case, the Justice Department emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
