Derrick Thomas Martin, Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking, Maryland 2024

A brazen attempt to dump a deadly payload nearly hit a child in Southeast DC. Derrick Thomas Martin, 33, now faces a lengthy federal prison sentence after a jury convicted him yesterday on multiple charges stemming from a November raid where he hurled a backpack containing a loaded handgun, enough fentanyl to kill thousands, and a substantial amount of cocaine onto the street.

Metro PD’s Criminal Apprehension Unit targeted Martin’s apartment on Pennsylvania Avenue SE on November 25th, 2024, acting on an outstanding warrant from Maryland. The warrant wasn’t for a new offense, however; Martin was a fugitive, having skipped trial on previous drug and weapons charges in the neighboring state. Sources say the unit anticipated resistance, given Martin’s extensive criminal history, but weren’t prepared for the immediate attempt to destroy evidence. As officers approached, Martin reportedly opened a window and tossed the backpack – a desperate, and ultimately unsuccessful, bid to evade capture.

The contents of that backpack were chilling. Investigators recovered a Century Arms Micro Draco pistol, a compact and notoriously powerful variant of the AK-47 rifle. Alongside the firearm were approximately 700 grams of cocaine – enough for hundreds of individual doses – and a staggering 5,700 fentanyl pills. Authorities estimate this amount of fentanyl could be lethal to a massive portion of the city’s population. Adding to the danger, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro highlighted the proximity of a child sleeping within the apartment during the incident, emphasizing the reckless disregard for public safety exhibited by Martin.

Martin didn’t simply try to ditch the drugs and gun; he actively fought with officers as they entered his apartment. The ensuing struggle underscores the violent nature of the defendant, a “career criminal” with a record stretching back years and encompassing 31 prior arrests, according to Pirro. The jury didn’t need long to deliberate, returning a guilty verdict on all four counts: possession of fentanyl and cocaine with intent to distribute (quantities exceeding 100 grams for fentanyl and 500 grams for cocaine, triggering significantly harsher penalties), being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm during drug trafficking crimes.

Federal sentencing guidelines for these charges are complex, but prosecutors are aiming for a minimum of 15 years in prison. The fentanyl and cocaine possession with intent to distribute charges alone carry a mandatory minimum of five years each, with the potential for life imprisonment depending on the severity of the offense and Martin’s prior record. The firearm charge adds another potential ten years, and the “firearm during drug trafficking” charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years that *must* be served consecutively – meaning on top of any other sentence imposed. That’s a heavy stack of time for a man with a history of ignoring the law.

The case highlights the ongoing fentanyl crisis gripping the nation’s capital and the relentless efforts of federal and local law enforcement to stem the flow of deadly narcotics into the city. While the bust removed a significant amount of poison from the streets, the sheer volume of fentanyl involved serves as a stark reminder of the scale of the problem. The feds are clearly sending a message: those who profit from peddling death will face the full weight of the law.

Martin is scheduled to appear before Judge Trevor N. McFadden on July 10, 2026, for sentencing. Whether he accepts a plea deal or faces the maximum penalties remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: his days of dealing are likely over. This case, like many others, underscores the constant battle waged against those who endanger our communities for profit.

The investigation was led by the Metro PD Criminal Apprehension Unit, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF’s involvement points to the connection between firearms trafficking and the drug trade, a common pairing that fuels violence and instability in urban areas. The feds are vowing to continue targeting these intertwined criminal enterprises.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

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