Phoenix Drug Trafficker Sentenced To 25 Years in Prison

     PHOENIX – Today, Gilberto Martinez, 35, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 25 years’ imprisonment, followed by 10 years’ supervised release.  Martinez was found guilty by a federal jury on Jan. 15, 2015, of five felony charges that included possession with intent to distribute cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

     The evidence showed that at 2:45 a.m. on March 31, 2014, the Martinez residence, a drug stash house in the 4800 block of East Cambridge, was the subject of a violent home invasion by armed suspects.  During the home invasion, a gunshot occurred as Martinez struggled with one of the home invaders for control of a firearm.  The home invaders then fled the residence, and Martinez quickly placed a portion of his drugs, firearms, and cash in a truck.  As Officers of the Phoenix Police Department were arriving on the scene, Martinez drove away in the truck and led Officers in police vehicles and a helicopter on a high speed chase.  Martinez abandoned the truck in the 3700 block of West Sheridan and was taken into custody when found hiding outside a nearby residence.  In the ensuing investigation, police and federal agents seized from Martinez ten firearms, two sets of ballistic armor, 6.7 kilograms of cocaine, 90 kilograms of marijuana, 180 grams of methamphetamine, and over $420,000.00 in cash.  Martinez is an eight-time convicted felon, including two prior convictions for drug dealing in the Phoenix area.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Phoenix Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The prosecution was handled by Michael Lee and Todd Allison, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-14-0495-PHX-SRB

RELEASE NUMBER:   2015-034_Martinez

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