Perris Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Possessing Kilograms of Methamphetamine and Illegally Possessing Firearms and Ammo

LOS ANGELES - A Riverside County man was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison for possessing while intending to distribute kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.

Alvaro Hector Martinez, 33, of Perris, was sentenced by United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha.

Martinez pleaded guilty in June 2023 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

In February 2021, Martinez - acting at the direction of a Sinaloan drug trafficker - sold approximately 872 grams of methamphetamine to a buyer. The following month, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Martinez. In his car, Martinez possessed 35 packages containing approximately 15.4 kilograms (34 pounds) of pure methamphetamine, which he intended to distribute.

Following the traffic stop, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence where DEA agents had observed Martinez departing with the drugs. There, they found five containers of methamphetamine weighing approximately 8.5 kilograms (18.7 pounds), three firearms, and 38 rounds of ammunition. Martinez admitted in his plea agreement to knowingly possessing the firearms and ammunition.

Martinez is not legally permitted to possess firearms or ammunition because of his criminal history, which includes felony convictions in Los Angeles Superior Court in 2014 for grand theft and possession of a firearm by a felon.

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Amanda B. Elbogen of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section prosecuted this case.