United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DALLAS, Texas - Jose Luis Martinez-Martinez, 41, of Desoto, Texas, made his initial appearance last week before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney on a complaint, unsealed today, charging possession with intent to distribute.  The charging was announced jointly by Dallas Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge, Clyde Shelley, Jr. and U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Judge Stickney ordered that Martinez remain in federal custody.  A preliminary hearing will be set at a later date.

According to the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, the investigation began when the Drug Enforcement Administration received information that Martinez-Martinez was involved in the distribution of kilogram quantities of heroin in the Dallas Metroplex.  An undercover officer contacted Martinez-Martinez by cellular phone and placed an order for three kilograms of heroin. Martinez-Martinez agreed to supply the officer with the three kilograms of heroin and they agreed to meet at the Flying J truck stop located at 7425 Bonnie View Road in Dallas.

Dallas County Sherriff’s officers performed a traffic stop on Martinez-Martinez as he arrived at the Flying J Truck stop.  During the traffic stop officers observed a small gift style bag with an open top sitting in the front right passenger seat. Also observed in plain view was a black tar like substance inside the bag believed to be heroin.  Martinez-Martinez was then placed under arrest. During an interview, Martinez-Martinez stated that he had an additional 2.5 kilograms of heroin concealed at his residence located at Desoto, Texas.  During a search of the residence investigators recovered an additional 3,042.3 grams of heroin.

A federal criminal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offense charged, and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge.  A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.  The U.S. Attorney’s office has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment.  The penalty for the charged offense is not less than 10 years or up to life in federal prison and a $10 million fine.

The matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael Jones is in charge of the prosecution.