El Paso traffic stop helps lead to arrest of New Mexico man on federal gun charges
A traffic stop in El Paso helped lead to the arrest of a New Mexico man accused of illegally selling guns on Instagram during a five-month investigation by federal law enforcement agents, authorities said.
Marquez Martinez, 25, of Albuquerque, was arrested May 11 on one count each of dealing in firearms without a license and illegal possession of a machine gun, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico officials said.
Martinez is accused of illegally selling guns between January and May on an Instagram social media account.
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The investigation into Martinez began Jan. 9 after a U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,Firearms, and Explosives agent found posts on Instagram advertising the sale of firearms and posting about "firearms that had been previously sold with a 'glitch,'” a federal complaint affidavit states.
A “glitch” is a slang term used for a Glock switch, which is a machine gun conversion device that can be mounted to the back of a handgun. Once mounted, the device allows the handgun to operate as a fully automatic weapon, officials said.
The next day, a student at West Mesa High School in Albuquerque was found with two firearms.
One of the guns was purchased by Martinez on Nov. 10, 2022, and modified with a machine gun conversion device, officials said.
An Albuquerque Police Department undercover detective then contacted Martinez through Instagram on Feb. 1 and set up numerous purchases of firearms and drugs, officials said.
The undercover detective purchased LSD, several handguns, an AK-47, several machine gun conversion devices, and fentanyl, officials said. One of the handguns was allegedly purchased by Martinez 39 days before he sold it to the detective.
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During one of the meetings with the undercover detective, Martinez sold the detective 500 blue fentanyl pills and three Glock switches for $2,700, the affidavit states.
In El Paso, a Texas Ranger pulled over a vehicle March 2 that had a person wanted for murder in Albuquerque. Court documents do not state the name of the murder suspect.
The Ranger searched the vehicle and found a firearm "modified with a Glock switch making the firearm shoot fully automatic," the affidavit states. The firearm was traced back to Martinez who purchased it on June 26, 2022, the affidavit states.
A traffic stop conducted March 8, in New Mexico by Albuquerque Police Department Gun Violence Suppression Unit officers found another firearm that had been purchased by Martinez on Jan. 7, 2023, officials said.
The five-month investigation allegedly revealed Martinez bought at least 35 firearms, officials said.
ATF agents and other federal law enforcement agencies executed a warrant at Martinez's Albuquerque home on May 11.
Agents found about 13 firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and numerous ammunition magazines, officials said.
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Martinez arrived at the home as law enforcement officers searched it.
An ATF agent interviewed Martinez, who admitted to purchasing “hundreds” of firearms since he turned 21, including about 50 purchases in the past six months, officials said.
Martinez also "indicated he sells the firearms to support himself and stores them in his brother’s bedroom," the affidavit states.
Martinez was then arrested, but he was granted release from jail by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kirtan Khalsa as he awaits trial. Martinez is staying at La Pasada Halfway House in Albuquerque, officials said.
He must abide by several release conditions, court records show, including not violating any federal, state, or local laws while on release; not possessing any firearms; must appear in court as required; and must abstain from alcohol and drugs.
No trial date has been set. The case will be tried in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso traffic stop helps lead to man's arrest on gun charges
