HELENA-WEST HELENA, AR – Martinez Alexander Jr., 19, of West Memphis, is facing a decade behind bars after a federal jury found him guilty of unlawful possession of a machinegun on August 22, 2025. The conviction comes after a five-day trial in Helena-West Helena, revealing a pattern of violence and gang affiliation that stretches back to late 2023.
The case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Bowen and Bart Dickinson, detailed how Alexander and co-defendant Jaylan Atkins, 21, allegedly opened fire in a drive-by shooting on December 15, 2023, wounding an adult male and a juvenile. Warrants for attempted capital murder were issued for both men in the wake of the shooting, but the machinegun charge stemmed from a chaotic police chase just weeks later.
On December 31, 2023, West Memphis Police Department officers spotted Alexander riding in a stolen Dodge Charger. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle bolted, initiating a five-minute high-speed pursuit through the city. The chase ended when officers disabled the Charger near the railroad tracks off Missouri Street. As Atkins and the driver fled on foot, officers witnessed Alexander tossing a tan 9mm Glock firearm with an extended magazine and a gold machinegun conversion device (MCD) from the backseat.
The Glock, equipped with the illegal MCD, wasn’t just a piece of contraband – it was the same weapon used in the December 15th drive-by shooting, investigators confirmed. The MCD transformed the handgun into a fully automatic weapon. Atkins was also found to be in possession of a similar illegally modified Glock 22, .40 caliber handgun. Atkins pleaded guilty to possessing the machinegun on February 5, 2025, and awaits sentencing.
While Alexander has no prior felony convictions, the trial painted a picture of a deeply embedded gang member with a history of violence. Testimony revealed Alexander’s connection to the Foxwood gang in West Memphis. At the time of his indictment on March 7, 2024, he was already facing four separate felony charges, including those related to the two shootings.
Alexander now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release. Federal sentencing guidelines offer no parole. The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the West Memphis Police Department. For more information on the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas, visit https://www.justice.gov/edar.
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Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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