A Texas man faces substantial prison time after a federal grand jury in Louisiana indicted him on drug trafficking allegations.
Eddie Martinez, a 44-year-old Texas citizen, has been charged with possession with intent to distribute a half-kilogram or more of cocaine, a serious offense under the Federal Controlled Substances Act.
According to a Department of Justice report, Acting US Attorney Michael M. Simpson made the announcement.
The prosecution brought forth the counts during the indictment, which included the defendant allegedly possessing and willfully distributing a mixture containing detectable cocaine in quantities sufficient to trigger obligatory minimum penalties.
If Martinez is found guilty, he may face a prison sentence ranging from five to four decades.
This does not include a fine that could reach $5 million and supervised release for at least four years after jail.
These startling numbers are balanced by Simpson’s caution that they reflect prospective outcomes, as every defendant is believed innocent unless proven guilty.
The charges arise from an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana State Police, indicating a joint effort to stop the supply of illegal narcotics. The burden of prosecution falls on Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit, with the indictment stating that Martinez is also expected to pay a $100 special assessment charge if convicted.
