CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Brandi Martin, 35, of Cross Lanes, West Virginia, is headed to federal prison for more than 15 years after being convicted of trafficking methamphetamine. Martin received a sentence of 188 months, followed by five years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.
The bust, a grim reminder of the opioid crisis gripping the state, involved a staggering six pounds of nearly pure methamphetamine. “Deadly – six pounds of 96% pure meth,” Stuart stated bluntly. “Thanks to the great work of our law enforcement partners, the package was intercepted before Martin had a chance to distribute it. Meth-related overdose deaths have been on the rise in our communities.”
Law enforcement intercepted the package, destined for Martin’s residence, on January 25, 2018. A subsequent search warrant execution on January 26th revealed Martin attempting to flush 19 grams of cocaine, 73 grams of methamphetamine, and heroin down the toilet. The flushed drugs were recovered and confirmed to be exceptionally potent – the methamphetamine clocked in at 96% purity, matching the intercepted shipment. Martin ultimately confessed to intending to distribute the drugs.
The scene wasn’t limited to narcotics. Officers also recovered two handguns from Martin’s home, adding another layer to the severity of the charges. This isn’t Martin’s first brush with federal law; she has a prior federal felony conviction for cocaine distribution, demonstrating a pattern of criminal behavior. The sheer volume and purity of the methamphetamine, combined with her previous conviction, clearly influenced the judge’s lengthy sentence.
The investigation was a collaborative effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), operating under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber handed down the sentence, with Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner prosecuting the case. OCDETF, established in 1982, targets high-level drug traffickers and transnational criminal organizations.
This case serves as a stark warning: those who profit from pushing poison into West Virginia communities will face serious consequences. Details of the case, including court documents, are available on PACER (Case No. 19-CR-00209). Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia on Twitter at SDWVNews and USAttyStuart for updates on federal crime enforcement in the region.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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