Jury convicts fentanyl drug trafficking organization 'regional manager'

A federal jury in Albuquerque has convicted the first defendant to go to trial on charges that he worked for an elaborate fentanyl drug trafficking network that spanned five states.

Alex Anthony Martinez, 38, was convicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy after a six-day trial, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Mexico. No sentencing date has been set.

He was one of 16 people charged with participating in the network led by Heriberto Salazar Amaya, a Mexican national arrested in Salem, Oregon. The Drug Enforcement Administration-led investigation into the organization resulted in what federal prosecutors say was the largest single fentanyl pill seizure in DEA history.

The organization is alleged to have ties to the Sinaloa drug cartel. As a “regional manager” in New Mexico, Martinez directed and supplied local distributors in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Hobbs between July 2024 and April 2025, federal prosecutors say.

The arrest of Martinez and another alleged “regional manager” for the organization, Bruce Sedillo, came after an investigation by the DEA and the Lea County Drug Task Force.

“Those efforts also took down a high-volume fentanyl dealer operating in Hobbs and southern New Mexico, Jose Marquez,” stated the U.S. Attorney’s office in a news release.

In November 2024, agents executed a search warrant at a stash house in Northeast Albuquerque connected to both Martinez and Sedillo. During the search, approximately 150,000 fentanyl pills, $72,000 in U.S. currency and multiple firearms were seized.

Simultaneous raids were also conducted in Salem, Denver, Phoenix, Albuquerque and Lawton, Utah, on April 28.

Altogether, the DEA confiscated about 4.2 million fentanyl pills — the most at one time — as well as 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 79 pounds of methamphetamine, 4.5 kilograms of heroin and 7.6 kilograms of cocaine, according to prosecutors.