Reoffender Sentenced To 85 Months In Prison For Distributing Methamphetamine And Violating Terms Of Suspended Sentence

Fayetteville, Arkansas - Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Jose Luis Martinez, age 37, of Rogers, was sentenced today to 70 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine plus 15 months imprisonment for violating the terms of his previous suspended sentence. The sentencing took place before the Honorable Timothy L. Brooks in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

U. S. Attorney Eldridge commented, “This defendant was previously imprisoned for a drug trafficking offense and was still on supervised release when he committed this criminal act. Those that continually violate the law by participating in this illicit activity put our communities at risk and demonstrate a lack of respect for both the justice system and society in general. We will continue to aggressively prosecute these types of cases and hold those involved accountable.”

According to court records, in May, 2014, during the course of an ongoing investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, agents arranged for a controlled purchase of one and one-half ounces of methamphetamine from Martinez. The transaction was to take place at Jose Martinez Tile and Granite in Rogers, a business owned by Martinez. Agents set up surveillance and observed as Martinez was handed $2100.00 in U.S. currency in exchange for the suspected methamphetamine. The suspected mixture was sent to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s South Central Laboratory where it tested positive for methamphetamine. Martinez pleaded guilty to the charge on September 11, 2014. At the time of his arrest, Martinez was on supervised release for a previous drug trafficking offense that occurred in June, 2008.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.

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Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov