In February 1999, Alberto Lugo, whom Ramos had known as a neighbor in his youth, was arrested and charged with the assault of three women. When arrested, he told the police he was Alex Ramos. The alleged impostor was found guilty of rape, sodomy and kidnapping. Ramos' private life was severely affected by the Lugo case: since Lugo had told detectives that he was Alex Ramos, many people actually believed Ramos to be a rapist. After Lugo was sentenced and publicly identified as Alberto Lugo, however, Ramos' name was cleared from any rape suspicions.