New York Man Pleads to Conspiring to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl in Western PA

PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Yonkers, New York has been sentenced in federal court to 78 months of imprisonment on his conviction for violating the federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Nora B. Fischer imposed the sentence on Erick A. Martinez, 36 years, of Yonkers, New York.

According to information presented to the Court, on May 12, 2020, Martinez pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. In connection with his guilty plea, Martinez admitted that he conspired with codefendants Brandon Winters and Eduard Guzman Rijo to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl in the Western District of Pennsylvania. The Court was advised that on January 30, 2019, investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police Drug Law Enforcement Division executed a search warrant at an apartment located in Pittsburgh, which was utilized by Martinez and his coconspirators, Brandon Winters and Eduard Rijo. Upon entry into the apartment, case agents located Winters, Rijo, and Martinez, approximately 1,500 “bricks” (the equivalent of roughly 75,000 individual dosage units) containing mixtures of heroin and fentanyl. Additionally, case agents seized over $250,000 in U.S. currency, which was found in and around Mr. Martinez and his coconspirators.

Following his 78 months of imprisonment, Martinez will be on federal supervised release for four years.

Assistant United States Attorney Jerome A. Moschetta prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Chung commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police Drug Law Enforcement Division for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Martinez.