Member of Tucson-based pot smuggling ring convicted in federal court

Brian J. Pedersen Arizona Daily Star
February 10, 2010 10:10 am

One of the 14 people implicated in a cross-country marijuana smuggling ring based out of Tucson has been convicted in federal court.

Glendale resident Miguel E. Martinez, 36, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana after a six-day trial that concluded Tuesday in U.S. District Court.

Martinez and his co-defendants were accused of transporting between 25 and 30 tons of marijuana between Tucson and the East Coast from 2002 to 2008, court records show.

Ten defendants have pleaded guilty, with eight awaiting sentencing and one — 53-year-old Tucsonan Alfonso Regalado — already serving a 10-year sentence, court records show.

One defendant had the charges dismissed and two others are still awaiting trial, according to court records.

Martinez, who faces between 10 and 20 years in federal prison, is scheduled to be sentenced May 13 by Chief U.S. District Judge John Roll.

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