A Bronx man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for brutally assaulting and starving two teenage siblings under his care, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Dec. 11, 2024.
Michael Ramos, 35, formerly of Burke Avenue, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree assault last month. Bronx Supreme Court Justice Audrey Stone imposed two consecutive six-year sentences, followed by three years of post-release supervision.
“The defendant was the guardian of these siblings, and he viciously beat them and deprived them of food,” District Attorney Clark said in a statement. “He has now been held accountable for his horrific treatment of these children, who are still dealing with the trauma and physical effects of their brutal captivity.”
From January to April 2023, Ramos subjected a 14-year-old girl and her 13-year-old brother to inhumane treatment at the NYCHA Eastchester Gardens Housing Complex. According to the investigation, Ramos, who became their guardian after his mother’s death in 2019, frequently held a loaded pistol to the victims’ heads, threatening to kill them. He also pistol-whipped the teens, beat them with objects, and deprived them of food, preventing them from attending school.
“These siblings endured unimaginable abuse, and this sentence ensures justice for them,” Clark added.
