Metro Denver Man Sentenced To Over 11 Years In Federal Prison For Firearm And Drug Crimes

DENVER – Juan Antonio Martinez, age 25, of Denver, was sentenced earlier this week by Chief Judge Marcia S. Krieger to serve 135 months (over 11 years) in federal prison for firearm and drug crimes, U.S. Attorney John Walsh and ATF Special Agent in Charge Andrew Traver announced.  Following his prison sentence, Chief Judge Krieger ordered Martinez to serve 5 years on supervised release.  The defendant appeared at the sentencing hearing in custody, and was immediately remanded at its conclusion.

Martinez was first charged by Criminal Complaint on February 2, 2012.  He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on February 8, 2012.  He pled guilty to selling crack cocaine and firearms on March 20, 2013.  Martinez was sentenced by Chief Judge Krieger on August 5, 2013.

According to court documents, including the stipulated facts in Martinez’s plea agreement, between November 3, 2011 and February 3, 2012, the ATF conducted a series of controlled purchases of crack cocaine from the defendant and his co-conspirator.  The conspiracy involved the sale of approximately 236.928 grams of crack.

In addition to the sale of crack cocaine, the defendant also contacted the informant and offered to sell an SKS Rifle for $650 and a sawed-off shotgun for $350.  The defendant ultimately sold both firearms to the informant for a total of $1,000 in cash.  The sawed-off shotgun was not registered in the National Firearms Registry and thus was contraband.  Prior to possessing both firearms, Martinez was convicted in 2006 of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance.  This conviction made Martinez a prohibited person, meaning it was a violation of law for him to possess any firearm.

“When a felon possesses a firearm and illegal drugs, he commits a serious federal offense – and as today’s prison sentence demonstrates, the court agrees,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. 

“This investigation exemplifies ATF’s core mission,” said Denver Special Agent in Charge, Andrew Traver.  “We make it a top priority to target convicted felons who continue to engage in illicit crime gun trafficking and drug dealing in our communities.”

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Denver Police Department, the Aurora Police Department and the Lakewood Police Department as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.

The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hosley, chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Major Crimes section.

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