A Riverside County man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for drug and firearm offenses. Alvaro Hector Martinez, aged 33 from Perris, received the sentence from United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha.
Martinez admitted guilt in June 2023 to charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. In February 2021, under the direction of a Sinaloan drug trafficker, he sold about 872 grams of methamphetamine. The following month, law enforcement stopped Martinez's vehicle and discovered 35 packages containing approximately 15.4 kilograms (34 pounds) of pure methamphetamine intended for distribution.
A subsequent search at a residence linked to Martinez revealed five containers of methamphetamine weighing around 8.5 kilograms (18.7 pounds), along with three firearms and 38 rounds of ammunition. Martinez acknowledged possessing these items despite his criminal history, which prohibits him from having firearms or ammunition due to felony convictions in Los Angeles Superior Court in 2014 for grand theft and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation into this case. Assistant United States Attorney Amanda B. Elbogen from the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section led the prosecution.