PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jesus Martinez, the cocaine kingpin of Providence, has been handed a decade-long sentence for his latest drug trafficking offense. The 49-year-old, who has already served nearly two decades behind bars, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for possessing 500 grams or more of cocaine with intent to distribute.
According to court documents, Martinez, while on supervised release less than four years after his previous sentence, was caught with over three kilograms of cocaine by U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspectors in December 2020. The investigation began when inspectors tracked several suspicious parcels mailed to Martinez from Puerto Rico.
On December 9, 2020, a warrant-led search at Martinez’s Providence residence yielded nearly 202 grams of cocaine and $52,880 in cash. An additional 3,000 grams were seized from the vehicle he frequently used. Martinez confessed to having parcels shipped from Puerto Rico to various locations in Providence, paying $37,000 per kilo and selling them for $42,000.
Martinez pleaded guilty on September 8, 2021, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith sentenced him to 120 months in federal prison, followed by eight years of supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zechariah Chafee prosecuted the case.
With this sentence, Martinez’s reign of drug terror in Providence comes to an end, marking a significant victory for law enforcement and communities affected by his criminal activities.
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- Providence Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Involving USPS Kidnapping · Puerto Rico
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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