Defendant Convicted at Trial in Massive Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced to Twelve Years

PHILADELPHIA – First Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Malik Martin a/k/a “Leek”, 37, of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release by United States Senior District Court Judge R. Barclay Surrick for his role in an extensive, national drug trafficking conspiracy.

Martin was convicted after a four week trial in October 2018 of conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms of more of marijuana and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Martin and his co-conspirators were part of a long-running drug-trafficking organization which distributed thousands of kilograms of marijuana, and then laundered the drug proceeds. The organization used tractor-trailer drivers to transport bulk quantities of marijuana from Arizona, California, and Texas to the East Coast, for distribution in the greater Philadelphia area. Martin worked closely with the head of the organization to bring money out to the West Coast, coordinate the purchase of the marijuana while there, and load the delivery of marijuana to the East Coast.

“Martin and his co-conspirators shipped tons of drugs from one end of this country to the other for decades,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Williams. “The sentence handed down today demonstrates our office’s commitment to taking down criminal organizations in order to keep our communities safe from the scourge of drug trafficking.”

“Malik Martin took part in a cross-country conspiracy that saw thousands of pounds of marijuana trucked here to Philadelphia,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “The FBI will continue to investigate and disrupt sprawling drug trafficking operations like this, as we work to take illegal drugs off the street and make this city safer.”

The case was investigated by the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Ashenfelter.