United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

DALLAS GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN
FEDERAL PRISON, WITH PAROLE, FOR FIREARM CONVICTION

DALLAS — Joseph Martinez, 20, who was arrested by Dallas Police officers on a traffic violation in November 2006, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey to 60 months (five years) in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Martinez pled guilty in September 2007 to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On November 1, 2006, a house was burglarized in Dallas and the get away vehicle was identified by its license plate number. Dallas Police officers saw the car and stopped Martinez for not wearing a seat belt. Martinez did not have a driver’s license or proof of insurance and was arrested. A search of the car revealed cocaine, marijuana and a Kel-Tec, 9mm pistol.

At Monday’s sentencing hearing, evidence was presented that Martinez is a member of the Varrio North Side gang.

The case was presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods/Anti-Gang initiative, a collaborative effort by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to aggressively prosecute firearm-related offenses and combat gangs by building on the effective strategies and partnerships developed under Project Safe Neighborhoods.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Dallas Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks.

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