Possession of Methamphetamine Leads to Federal Prison Sentence of 22+ Years

Eric Martin, 36, of Ethel, Louisiana, was sentenced today for
possession of methamphetamine announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown.
United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced Martin to 274 months (22
years, 10 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Martin was charged in an indictment in January 2023 with one count of possession
with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to evidence presented to the court, on
July 13, 2022, members of the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on a
vehicle for speeding and the driver and lone occupant was identified as Martin. During the
traffic stop, law enforcement officers observed the odor of marijuana emitting from inside the
passenger compartment of the vehicle. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Martin was
questioned by officers. Martin admitted that marijuana could be located inside a blue
backpack located on the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle was conducted, and officers located approximately 26 grams
of marijuana on the front passenger seat. In addition, approximately 18 kilograms of
suspected methamphetamine was found on the back seat of the vehicle, within the reach of
Martin. A presumptive test of the suspected methamphetamine returned a positive result for
the presence of methamphetamine. The suspected methamphetamine was sent to the DEA
laboratory for testing and had a result indicating the substance had a net weight of 16.96
kilograms of methamphetamine.
Martin has a criminal history including convictions for negligent homicide and
accessory after the fact to aggravated second degree battery.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and
Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaDonte A.
Murphy and Craig R. Bordelon.