Rhode Island Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison

SOUTH BEND – Yesterday, Jesus Martinez-Salas, 44 years old, of Providence, Rhode Island, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

Martinez-Salas was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, in late 2022, Martinez-Salas shipped more than a pound of fentanyl from Rhode Island to a buyer in Indiana.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.