A convicted felon has been arraigned in federal court in Providence on firearm and drug charges, as announced by Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. The 15-count federal superseding indictment against Luis Martinez, 46, of Providence was returned by a grand jury on June 18, 2025.
The indictment includes charges such as three counts of sale or transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person, two counts of distribution of cocaine, three counts of distribution of cocaine base, four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count each for possession with intent to distribute both cocaine base and cocaine, and one count for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. "A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty," states the announcement.
Charging documents allege that between September 17, 2024, and March 5, 2025, Martinez sold approximately 73.6 grams of crack cocaine and about 54.9 grams of cocaine. On March 26, 2025, he allegedly possessed more than 28 grams of cocaine base with the intent to distribute it alongside possessing additional cocaine with similar intent. Additionally, during this period from September to March the following year, Martinez is accused as a felon possessing four firearms—three reportedly sold or transferred—and having had one during his alleged drug trafficking activities on March 26.
Court records indicate that Martinez was previously convicted on felony firearm and drug trafficking charges within Rhode Island state courts and was serving state probation at the time when initially arrested on May 7 this year; he remains detained federally.
Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron will prosecute this case which saw investigative efforts led by both the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Explosives along with support from Providence Police Department's Narcotics Unit.
