Tyler black-market gun dealer convicted of federal firearms crime, officials say
The U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Texas said 23-year-old Francisco Martinez was found guilty of selling a firearm to a person who intended to use the gun for drug trafficking crimes. Information revealed in court shows that he was known by law enforcement as a black-market source for firearms in Tyler.
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During a drug trafficking investigation, Martinez was caught accompanying a cocaine dealer to a drug purchase at a grocery store parking lot. He was reportedly caught carrying an AK-47 during the transaction.
He faces up to life in federal prison, sentencing will be based on the advisory guidelines and other statutory factors. The hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a pre-sentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
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U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr., spoke about Martinez's sentence and how he and other government agencies will continue to work to get these crimes off the street.
'This verdict continues to demonstrate how relentless the Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney's Office and its FBI and ATF partners will work to combat violent crime,' McGlothin said. 'As promised, my office and our law enforcement partners will find drug and illicit gun dealers and take them off the streets.'
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