WASHINGTON – In a dramatic turn of events, Marvin Benjamin Martin, 32, from the District of Columbia, entered a guilty plea in federal court just a day before his trial was set to begin. Martin confessed to attempting possession with intent to distribute dipentylone, colloquially known as ‘boot,’ an illegal psychostimulant that originated from China.
The U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced the charges against Martin, who is now scheduled for sentencing on October 17, 2025. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington D.C. High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area group (HIDTA) had been investigating illegal shipments of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals from China. Their efforts led to the seizure of a package containing 10 kilos of boot at Los Angeles International Airport in February 2024.
HSI agents swapped the real drugs for fake materials, fitted with a GPS tracker, and then delivered it to Martin’s residence. After retrieving the package and evading capture during a high-speed chase, Martin was eventually apprehended in Annapolis, Maryland, on April 10, 2024.
Agents recovered evidence from multiple phones showing that Martin had been selling boot and other narcotics for years. He paid approximately $40,000 to $50,000 for the shipment and intended to sell it for up to $200 an ounce.
This case was a collaborative effort between HIDTA, the Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the Annapolis Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Iris McCranie and Anthony Scarpelli of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking section (VCNT) of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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