ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal jury convicted an Albuquerque man for his role in a multi-state fentanyl trafficking organization, following an operation that resulted in the largest single fentanyl pill seizure in DEA history. The verdict came after a six-day trial and approximately eight hours of deliberation.
The conviction of Alex Anthony Martinez, 38, represents the first trial victory in the ongoing federal case against the multi-state fentanyl trafficking network led by Heriberto Salazar Amaya.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Martinez served as a “regional manager” within a multi-state drug trafficking organization led by Salazar Amaya, directing and supplying local distributors in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Hobbs between July 2024 and April 2025.
The investigation into Martinez and Bruce Sedillo, another regional manager for Salazar Amaya, included coordinated enforcement actions between 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.
In November 2024, agents executed a search warrant at a stash house in northeast Albuquerque connected to both Sedillo and Martinez. During the search, approximately 150,000 fentanyl pills, $72,000 in U.S. currency, and multiple firearms were seized.
Sedillo was subsequently arrested and charged with drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
Following Sedillo’s arrest, Martinez took over operations and attempted to expand them to introduce narcotics into the Cibola County Correctional Center.
On July 16, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a second superseding indictment charging Martinez and 15 co-defendants with drug trafficking and firearms offenses, charges that violated the terms of his pretrial release from a separate case in which he was charged as a felon in possession of a firearm.
On May 2, 2025, federal agents arrested Martinez at his residence in northwest Albuquerque during a coordinated, multi-state operation that resulted in the largest single seizure of fentanyl pills in DEA’s history.
“This conviction marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to dismantle the criminal organizations responsible for poisoning our communities with fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “Thanks to outstanding collaboration among federal, state, tribal, and local agencies, we are taking apart the network that brought addiction and violence to New Mexico and neighboring states. We will not stop until every member is held fully accountable.”
“Drug trafficking networks are going to find the long arm of the DEA wherever they attempt to venture,” said Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division. “This successful outcome is one of many more to come in this historic, record, multi-state operation. Stay tuned for more.”
Martinez was convicted of Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. Following the verdict, the Court ordered that Martinez remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Martinez faces up to life in prison.
On July 1, 2025, Jose Marquez pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit a Drug Trafficking Offense and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. At sentencing, Marquez faces not less than 10 years and up to life in prison.
On July 2, 2025, Bruce Sedillo pled guilty to Conspiracy, Distribution of Fentanyl, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and Possession a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug trafficking Crime. At sentencing, Sedillo also faces not less than 15 years and up to life in prison.
To date, five other co-defendants have pleaded guilty to federal charges. They are David Anesi, Cesar Acuna Moreno, Francisco Garcia, Phillip Lovato, and Brian Sanchez. The remaining defendants, including Heriberto Salazar Amaya, are scheduled for trial on October 21, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, made the announcement.
The DEA’s El Paso Division investigated this case with assistance from the IRS Criminal Investigation. Supervisory Assistant U.S.
Attorneys Elaine Ramirez and Matthew McGinley, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Blake Nichols and Raquel Ruiz-Velez are prosecuting the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
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