Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Ricky J. Patel, have announced the arrest of Wilvyn Antonio Rosario Martinez, also known as "Anthony." Rosario Martinez is accused of conspiring to distribute fentanyl and possessing numerous firearms related to that conspiracy. The charges include an untraceable firearm and devices that could convert it into a machine gun capable of automatic fire.
"As alleged, Rosario Martinez traveled from Massachusetts to New York to deal highly dangerous drugs and guns," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. He added that besides selling fentanyl disguised as pharmaceutical pills, multiple loaded firearms with defaced serial numbers were involved. "The trafficking of these deadly poisons and lethal weapons fuels violence and overdose deaths in our communities," Clayton stated.
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel remarked on the public safety threat posed by Rosario Martinez's actions: "As alleged, he was among individuals found to be in possession of several firearms...and thousands of potentially ultra-deadly fentanyl pills."
According to allegations, between December 2024 and May 2025, Rosario Martinez and associates made several trips from Massachusetts to New York for illegal sales. These included approximately 580 grams of powder fentanyl, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, seven firearms, over 100 rounds of ammunition including armor-piercing bullets, five firearm switches, and other accessories.
On March 4, 2025, a sale included a semiautomatic rifle with armor-piercing bullets and approximately 595 fentanyl pills. On May 7, a ghost gun along with ammunition and around 2,000 fentanyl pills were sold.
Rosario Martinez faces one count each for conspiring to distribute fentanyl with a minimum sentence of ten years up to life imprisonment; possessing firearms furthering the conspiracy carrying a mandatory sentence of thirty years consecutive to any other term; and possessing/transferring a machine gun which carries up to ten years in prison.
Jay Clayton praised HSI’s Violent Gang Task Force's investigative work on this case handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Cheng.
The charges are accusations at this stage; Rosario Martinez is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
