Federal Prisoner Convicted of Possessing a Weapon

CORPUS CHISTI, Texas – A 20-year-old man from Corpus Christi has entered a guilty plea to possessing a dangerous weapon while in custody, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

On Jan. 9, 2018, Isaiah Martinez was awaiting sentencing at the Coastal Bend Detention Facility. On that date, correctional officers responded to a large fight inside the unit between two groups of inmates. During the incident, which was caught on video, Martinez removed an object from his waistband and attacked another inmate, who sustained several puncture wounds to the right side of his abdomen.

During a search of the inmates involved in the fight, officers recovered a homemade weapon or “shank” that appeared to be a metal spike approximately six inches in length from Martinez.

The following day, Senior U.S. District Judge Hayden Head sentenced Martinez to a total of 240 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

He again will appear before Judge Head for sentencing in this case on May 23, 2018. At that time, he faces another five-year-maximum term of imprisonment and a possible $250,000 fine.

Martinez has remained in federal custody since his initial arrest where he will remain pending that hearing. 

The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt is prosecuting the case.