Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEW ORLEANS — Brandon Martinez, aka “Rabbit,” of Metairie, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to 48 months incarceration after previously pleading guilty to use of a communication facility to facilitate felony drug trafficking, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b). Judge Fallon ordered that Martinez be placed on supervised release for three years following release from prison. Martinez was also ordered to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

According to court records, prior to March 2, 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives learned that a motorcycle in New Orleans, might be harboring drug sellers. ATF used confidential informant (CI) to investigate whether drug sales were indeed occurring.

On March 2, 2021, the CI traveled to the shop and met with Martinez. The CI told Martinez that he wanted to buy methamphetamine. Martinez then used a cellphone to set up a meeting between the CI and a co-defendant in this case, who sold methamphetamine. All of the co-defendants involved in this case previously plead guilty to selling and attempting to sell over 50 grams of methamphetamine, in addition to gun charges.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun track violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

The case was investigated by the ATF, the New Orleans Police Department and the Louisiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit.

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