Albuqueruqe Man Arrested on Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

ALBUQUERQUE – Jose A. Martinez, 40, of Albuquerque, N.M., made his initial appearance in federal court this morning on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Martinez remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for June 11, 2013.

Martinez was arrested last night by the DEA after officers of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office executed a state search warrant at his residence on the west side of Albuquerque and seized two kilograms of heroin, a kilogram of cocaine and 17 firearms.

If convicted on the drug trafficking charges in the complaint, Martinez faces a mandatory minimum of ten years to a maximum of life in prison.  If convicted on the firearms charges, Martinez faces five years in prison to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the drug trafficking charges.  Charges in criminal complaints are only accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel R. Meyers.