Josue Romero Martinez will spend seven to 10 years in prison following his conviction for trafficking opiates during Catawba County Superior Court on Tuesday, December 7, 2021.
The Honorable Craig Croom, Superior Court Judge from Wake County, imposed the sentence for Martinez after he pleaded guilty to the offense.
In addition, Martinez will be required to pay a mandatory fine of $100,000. He will serve his incarceration period in the custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections. The defendant was serving a probationary sentence for attempted trafficking when he was arrested and charged with the latest offense.
Martinez, 29, of Lenoir, was arrested on October 5, 2020, after he was found in possession of opiates that were determined to be a combination of fentanyl, ANPP and hydrocodone throughtesting conducted by the State Crime Lab.
Officers from Hickory Police Department responded to a suspicious vehicle with the motor running and lights on at a local hotel in the early-morning hours. The defendant was found asleep in the driver’s seat.
He was awakened and removed from the vehicle. That’s whenofficers found a clear, plastic bag in his pocket that contained the drugs.
The case was investigated by Hickory Police Department. Assistant District Attorney Jessica Phillips handled prosecution for the State.
CONTACT: Nathan Key
Phone: 828-695-6193
Email: Nathan.D.Key@nccourts.org