Phoenix Man Convicted for Operating Home Meth Lab

(Phoenix, Ariz. – November 7, 2008) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced that a Maricopa County Superior Court jury has convicted Joseph George Martinez, Sr., 43, of Phoenix, on six felony counts related to his production and sale of methamphetamine from his home in West Phoenix.

The charges included one count of Manufacture of Methamphetamine, one count of Possession for Sale of Methamphetamine, one count of Conspiracy, one count of Illegally Conducting an Enterprise, one count of Possession of Marijuana and one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

According to court documents, in January 2005, investigators from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Taskforce (HIDTA) observed one of Martinez’s co-defendants purchasing large quantities of pseudoephedrine from a local retailer. Further investigation revealed that Martinez was operating a sophisticated home meth lab that contained chemicals and equipment capable of producing large quantities of meth.

“While we have made great progress in shutting down meth labs and reducing meth use in our state, our enforcement efforts are not diminished,” Goddard said. “We will aggressively prosecute anyone involved in making or selling this dangerous drug.”

Martinez was convicted Thursday following a six-day jury trial. He is currently in custody awaiting a Dec. 9 sentencing hearing. He faces a presumptive sentence of nine to 23 years in prison. Assistant Attorney General Paula Alleman is handling this case.