Jesus Martinez, 49, of Providence, is back behind bars—this time for ten years—after being caught red-handed with more than three kilograms of cocaine just four years out of federal prison. The repeat offender was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 120 months in federal prison, followed by eight years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
The bust began in the fall of 2020, when U.S. Postal Inspection Service agents started tracking parcels mailed to Martinez with clear signs of narcotics inside. The shipments, originating from Puerto Rico, were part of a growing pipeline of cocaine funneled into Providence. By December, investigators had enough evidence to move in. On December 9, 2020, court-authorized searches hit Martinez’s Providence apartment and a vehicle he regularly used—turning up nearly 202 grams of cocaine and $52,880 in cash from the home, and nearly 3,000 grams of cocaine from the car.
Court documents reveal Martinez admitted to investigators that he had been importing kilos of cocaine from Puerto Rico for about six months before his arrest. He told law enforcement he paid $37,000 per kilogram and flipped them for $42,000—netting thousands in illicit profit from each shipment. The operation was brazen, relying on the U.S. mail system to deliver high-grade narcotics straight to his doorstep.
This isn’t Martinez’s first run-in with federal drug laws. He previously served nearly twenty years in federal prison for cocaine trafficking, only to be released and return to the same criminal enterprise. His return to drug trafficking less than four years after release underscores a troubling cycle of recidivism within the federal system.
Martinez pleaded guilty on September 8, 2021, to the charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zechariah Chafee, pushed for a stiff sentence, citing Martinez’s criminal history and the scale of the operation. Judge Smith agreed, handing down the maximum term allowed under the plea agreement.
Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus emphasized that federal agencies remain focused on dismantling drug networks, especially those run by repeat offenders. ‘Martinez thought he could exploit the mail system and re-enter the drug trade with impunity,’ Myrus said. ‘He was wrong. Ten years behind bars sends a clear message: we’re watching, and we’re coming for you.’
Related Federal Cases
- Cocaine Kingpin Jesus Martinez Sentenced to Decade in RI Prison · Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island Man Charged in Cocaine Trafficking Sting · Puerto Rico
- Providence Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Involving USPS Kidnapping · Puerto Rico
- Providence Man Sentenced for Kidnapping USPS Employee in Cocaine Trafficking Plot · Puerto Rico
- Cocaine Cargo: Philly Airport Bust Lands Puerto Rico Woman in Court · North Carolina
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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