Another Sentencing in Operation “Don Quixote”

RALEIGH—United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court here yesterday United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, sentenced EDUARDO ROMERO MARTINEZ, 29, of Rocky Point, North Carolina, to 156 months’ imprisonment followed by three years supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on April 10, 2008. On October 20, 2008, MARTINEZ pled guilty to distribution of a quantity of cocaine.On November, 27, 2007, MARTINEZ sold 129 grams of cocaine to an agent for the government at MARTINEZ’s business in Wilmington, North Carolina.

On February 12, 2008, MARTINEZ, using another person, sold 243 grams of cocaine to an agent for the government, again at MARTINEZ’s business.

MARTINEZ has prior convictions that include conspiracy to traffic in marijuana by transportation and possess with intent to deliver cocaine.

This case was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation entitled “Don Quixote,” which showed that MARTINEZ was responsible for distributing more than 10 kilograms of cocaine.

Mr. Holding commented: “I want to commend the investigators who handled this matter. The ‘Don Quixote’ case has been instrumental in removing a number of serious drug dealers from Southeastern North Carolina.”

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, the Pender County Sheriff’s Department, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department and the Wilmington Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Severo represented the Government. Mr Severo is a prosecutor with the New Hanover District Attorney’s Office. District Attorney Ben David has assigned him to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force criminal matters. This has been made possible by a grant funded by the Governor’s Crime Commission and the New Hanover County Commissioners.