Yuma News Now

Martin Angel Gonzalez, 43, of Phoenix, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for operating a large drug trafficking ring out of Phoenix. U.S. District Court Judge Stephen M. McNamee also imposed a $10 million money judgment against Gonzalez who pleaded guilty on September 12, 2008 to being the leader of a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana.

Gonzalez had been charged with various drug trafficking offenses as part of a 70-count superseding indictment related to his leadership of a 12-year conspiracy involving the distribution of over 30,000 kilograms of marijuana worth more than $33 million. Twenty-five other co-conspirators were also charged and have pleaded guilty for their involvement in the conspiracy. Many will be sentenced over the next few months.

During the investigation, agents seized approximately 5,000 pounds of marijuana and more than $15 million in organizational assets. These assets included cash, investment accounts, bank accounts, vehicles, jewelry and real estate properties. Gonzalez’s organization imported marijuana from Mexico, packaged it in the Phoenix area and distributed it to Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin and California. He distributed marijuana to his associates across the country using commercial trucks, personal vehicles and commercial shipping companies. Gonzalez was arrested in Morelia, Michoacàn, Mexico, with the assistance of Mexican federal law enforcement authorities. He was extradited from Mexico to the United States in 2006.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division and the Scottsdale Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Kevin M. Rapp and Jennifer E. Green, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.