Man Indicted for Distribution of Oxymorphone Causing Death
EL PASO – A federal grand jury in El Paso returned an indictment last week charging an El Paso man with distribution of a controlled substance causing death.
According to court documents, on or about March 11, 2019, Michael Martinez, 30, distributed oxymorphone, also known as numorphan, to another individual who died as a result.
Martinez is charged with one count of distributing oxymorphone causing death and one count of distributing oxymorphone. The defendant’s initial court appearance was held today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Castaneda. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years to life for distribution of oxymorphone causing death and up to 20 years in prison for distribution of oxymorphone. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Kyle Williamson of the Drug Enforcement Administration, El Paso Division made the announcement.
The DEA's El Paso Division Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Countryman is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.