Maria Martinez - Michigan
#461000
State: Michigan
Sentence: 20 to 40 years
Offense: Intent to deliver/manufacture over 650 grams of cocaine
Court: Oakland County
Priors: None
Date of Birth: 7/15/1979
Date of Sentencing: 6/23/2003
Earliest Release Date: 10/1/2022
Maximum Release Date: 10/1/2042
Nature of Offense: 23-year-old Maria Martinez came to the United States from Mexico in September 2002 to visit her boyfriend. Less than a month later, she faced a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence after she was charged with the intent to deliver over 650 grams of cocaine. Maria came to the U.S. because she thought she was pregnant and wanted to tell her boyfriend in person. Her boyfriend had already been in the country for a few months staying with an acquaintance when Maria arrived and she agreed to stay in his apartment with them as well. Unbeknownst to Maria, police officers suspected that her boyfriend’s friend was involved with drugs and the apartment she was staying in was under surveillance. When the apartment was raided on October 2 officers discovered approximately 20 pounds of cocaine and drug paraphernalia distributed throughout the apartment. Maria, her boyfriend, her boyfriend’s friend and another man present when the apartment was searched were consequently arrested. Her boyfriend’s acquaintance claimed he was storing the drugs for a friend in exchange for cash. Surveillance officers never witnessed Maria engage in any illegal activity during their two-week investigation, but claimed that she knew about the drugs and charged her with the intent to deliver. Maria denied any knowledge of the drugs and took her case to trial where she was found guilty.
Sentence: Because of the amount of drugs involved in the offense, Maria received a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years. Prior to 1998, the “650 Lifer Law”, the delivery or conspiracy to deliver over 650 grams of cocaine or heroin, mandated life without parole. In 1998, FAMM succeeded in reforming the “650 Lifer Law” penalty and won further reforms of the penalty in 2003. Maria benefited from the 1998 reforms, but was ineligible to benefit from the March 1, 2003 reforms because her sentence occurred in 2002 even though she was sentenced after the reforms took effect.
Sentences of Others Involved: Maria’s boyfriend received a sentence of 25 to 50 years. Her boyfriend’s acquaintance and the other man present at the time of the raid also received sentences of 20 to 40 years.
Personal Background: Maria is from San Luis Potosi, Mexico. She has a 12th grade level of education and completed some college level computer classes. Prior to her incarceration, she was working as a supervisor at Macro Centro Company in Mexico. Maria has no history of substance abuse or involvement with drugs. At the time of Maria’s arrest she spoke no English and has worked hard since her incarceration to master the language. She is still in touch with her family members in Mexico, but they are unable to visit her due to the great distance and cost.
Compiled from PSR and inmate information.
BA 8/11/06