A Washington state man has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison after law enforcement found him in possession of over 10,000 fentanyl pills and he attempted to assault a police officer.
Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker announced that 32-year-old Leonardo Daniel Martinez, of Pasco, Washington, received a 125-month prison sentence from Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian for fentanyl trafficking. Martinez will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.
According to court records, officers with the Richland Police Department (RPD) responded to a domestic disturbance involving Martinez on May 20, 2022. When officers ordered Martinez to leave the residence, he refused and attempted to assault an officer. Martinez was taken into custody, and during a pat-down search, officers discovered a 9mm handgun in his possession. Due to his prior criminal record, which includes a domestic violence conviction, Martinez was prohibited from owning firearms.
Further investigation led officers to search Martinez’s dark blue BMW, where they uncovered an additional handgun, 10,179 fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, a digital scale, three cell phones, and $72,354 in cash.
Acting U.S. Attorney Barker emphasized the connection between domestic violence and firearm-related crimes in the region. “Domestic violence offenders are far more likely to engage in intimate partner violence as well as violence directed at law enforcement officers responding to emergency calls,” Barker stated. “This danger is further exacerbated when offenders like Mr. Martinez possess large quantities of dangerous narcotics. I am grateful for the dedication of the DEA and the Richland Police Department for their diligent work in removing large volumes of dangerous fentanyl from our communities.”
David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division, noted the threat Martinez posed to public safety. “Mr. Martinez disregarded the safety of those around him by engaging in domestic violence, attempting to assault a police officer, carrying a handgun, and possessing enough fentanyl to potentially kill almost 6,000 people,” Reames said. “Our community is safer with Mr. Martinez behind bars, and I am gratified that the Drug Enforcement Administration could help the Richland Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office make that happen.”
Authorities continue to emphasize the deadly impact of fentanyl and the need for strong enforcement against traffickers contributing to the ongoing crisis.
