SAN JOSE - Rudy Martinez was sentenced on Dec. 16, 2013, to 140 months in prison, for trafficking in methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine in Santa Cruz County, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.
Martinez pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2013, to possession of heroin and methamphetamine with intent to distribute these drugs. According to the plea agreement, Martinez admitted to possessing over 244 grams of heroin, 32 grams of methamphetamine, and 152 grams of cocaine. At the time of his arrest, he had over $12,000 in his possession, which was proceeds of his criminal activity. Martinez further admitted at sentencing that he was acting as a “middleman" for others actively distributing these drugs in the City of Santa Cruz and elsewhere.
Martinez, 40, of Santa Cruz, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 24, 2012. He was charged with possessing significant quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine with the intent to distribute those drugs to others. Because the drugs were located at his home directly across from a Santa Cruz city park, he was also charged with possessing those drugs with intent to distribute them within 1,000 feet of a playground.
The investigation began after Martinez was allegedly involved in a violent street altercation which took place in the Beach Flats neighborhood of Santa Cruz on July 4, 2012. Police searched Martinez’s home on July 19, 2012, and discovered the methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, together with scales and packaging materials. Martinez was arrested by Santa Cruz police that day.
The sentence was handed down by The Honorable Edward J. Davila, United States District Court Judge. Judge Davila also sentenced the defendant to a 5-year period of supervised release, and ordered him to forfeit $12,715 to the United States. The defendant, who has been in custody since his guilty plea in August, will begin serving the sentence immediately.
Amie Rooney is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Tracey Andersen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security and the Santa Cruz City Police Department.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
