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Press Release

Five Plead Guilty to Kidnapping, Cocaine and Heroin Distribution, and/or Firearm Offenses in Case Where Numerous Shots Were Fired at Ennis Police Officer During High Speed Pursuit

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas

DALLAS — Five defendants have pleaded guilty to kidnapping, cocaine and heroin distribution, and/or firearm offenses in a case related to the attempted kidnapping of an individual because of an unpaid drug debt.  Today, Melissa Trevino, 23, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping.  She is the last of five defendants to enter guilty pleas in the case.  Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Trevino, faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.  Sentencing is set for March 23, 2017.

Four other defendants charged in the case also recently pleaded guilty.  One remaining defendant charged in the case, Jonathan Benitez, remains a fugitive.

Javier Martinez, 24, of Lancaster, Texas, pleaded guilty on November 15, 2016, to several felony offenses:  one count each of conspiracy to commit kidnapping; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute heroin; using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  While Martinez faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison and a $2.75 million fine, if the Court accepts the plea agreement between the government and the defendant, Martinez should receive a total sentence of 40 years in federal prison.  Sentencing is set for March 2, 2017.

Maria Guadalupe Bello, 22, pleaded guilty on November 1, 2016, to one count of conspiracy to possesses heroin with the intent to distribute it.  She faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.  Sentencing is set for February 16, 2017.

Jose Cardenas Aguirre, 25, pleaded guilty on October 25, 2016, to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping.  He faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.  Sentencing is set for February 9, 2017.

Indolfo Martinez, 47, who is Javier Martinez’s father, pleaded guilty on October 18, 2016, to one count of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.  He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.  Sentencing is set for February 2, 2017.

According to documents filed in the case, on July 12, 2016, Javier Martinez, along with co-defendants Jose Cardenas Aguirre and Melissa Trevino, planned to kidnap another individual because of an unpaid drug debt involving cocaine.  During the planned kidnapping, Javier Martinez and Aguirre wore ballistic vests and black camouflage clothing.  The kidnapping was unsuccessful, and as Javier Martinez, Aguirre, and Trevino fled the scene, they were engaged in a high-speed chase with officers with the Ennis Police Department.  During this pursuit, Javier Martinez, using an AR-156 style rifle, fired numerous shots at a police officer.  Javier Martinez led, supervised, and organized this planned kidnapping.  Trevino also worked with Javier Martinez in selling illegal narcotics.

Between December 2015, and continuing to July 2016, Javier Martinez conspired to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin.  On February 5, 2016, Javier Martinez possessed a firearm in furtherance of these drug trafficking crimes.

Indolfo Martinez was his son’s cocaine supplier.  In July 2016, Indolfo Martinez met with an individual and offered to sell that individual a kilogram of cocaine for $28,300.  In the same conversation, Indolfo Martinez offered to sell three kilogram of cocaine to that individual for a reduced price of $28,000 per kilogram.  During that conversation, Indolfo Martinez instructed this other individual, the purported cocaine purchaser, to use the code phrase, “horses with saddles,” when referencing cocaine. 

In addition, according to the factual resume, on January 7, 2016, Javier Martinez sold another individual one ounce of heroin and offered to sell that same individual one kilogram of heroin for $40,000.  During that same conversation, Javier Martinez offered to sell the same individual an AK-47 for $7,000 and an AR-15 rifle for $1,500.  On April 11, 2016, Javier Martinez and Bello, who were involved in a romantic relationship since October 2015 and had lived together since January 2016, sold three ounces of heroin and two AR-15’s to another individual; these drug and gun sales took place at Javier Martinez’s residence.

The case was investigated by the Ennis Police Department and the FBI’s Violent Gang Taskforce.   Assistant U.S. Attorney P.J. Meitl is in charge of the prosecution.

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Updated December 6, 2016

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses
Violent Crime