Meth trafficker sentenced to 10 years in prison following HSI Corpus Christi-led investigation

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A judge sentenced a drug trafficker to 10 years in federal prison Dec. 14 for distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. The conviction and sentencing follow an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations Corpus Christi, commonly called HSI Corpus Christi, with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Live Oak County, Texas Sheriff’s Office.

Roger Lee Martinez, a 40-year-old Three Rivers, Texas resident, was sentenced in the Southern District of Texas to 10 years in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Martinez had waived his right to appeal.

Martinez pleaded guilty to the charges June 1.

The investigation revealed that Martinez had distributed varying amounts of methamphetamines between Jan. 1, 2018, and July 29, 2020. On some of those occasions, he conducted his criminal activity from a hotel room in Three Rivers.

On Aug. 11, 2020, law enforcement conducted a search at that location and discovered 141.5 grams of meth tucked inside an air conditioner frame in a neighboring room.

Following his arrest, Martinez admitted he had sold up to 45 ounces of meth per month beginning in 2018.

Martinez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Gould prosecuted the case.

For more news and information on HSI Houston’s efforts to aggressively investigate narcotics smuggling and trafficking in Southeast Texas follow us on Twitter @HSIHouston.