Highlands county man sentenced to 18 years in prison for armed drug trafficking
AVON PARK, Fla. - Samuel Martinez, 41, of Avon Park, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to 18 years in prison for armed drug trafficking.
Martinez previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (Case No. 19-CR-14022).
According to the court record, on March 12, 2019, law enforcement officers from the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant for a hotel room in Avon Park. Martinez was found inside the hotel room along with over three pounds of methamphetamine, some of which had been packaged for resale, and a loaded Springfield Armory .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
This case involved one of the largest single seizures of methamphetamine, to date, in Highlands County. Methamphetamine is a dangerous and highly addictive controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Port St. Lucie Resident Office and the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
