Pasco man sentenced to over 10 years for fentanyl trafficking, assault attempt
Mar 28, 2025, 5:00 AM | Updated: 5:33 am
A Richland Police Department vehicle. (Photo courtesy of the city of Richland)
(Photo courtesy of the city of Richland)
A 32-year-old Pasco man has been sentenced to over 10 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Chief United States District Judge Stanley Bastian also ordered Leonardo Daniel Martinez to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.
RELATED STORIES
The case comes from an incident on May 20, 2022, when Richland Police responded to a domestic disturbance involving Martinez. Despite being instructed to leave the premises, Martinez resisted and reportedly tried to assault an officer.
During his arrest, officers discovered he had a 9mm handgun. Martinez, who has a prior domestic violence conviction, was legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
“Domestic violence is a major contributor to firearm-related crimes in Eastern Washington, particularly in the Tri-Cities area,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Barker. “Offenders like Mr. Martinez, who possess large quantities of dangerous narcotics, pose a significant threat to our community.”
Fentanyl pills were found in a Pasco man’s car
A subsequent search of Martinez’s car revealed another handgun, 10,179 fentanyl pills, $72,354 in cash, a small amount of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and three cell phones.
“Martinez’s actions endangered many lives,” David Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division, said. “His possession of enough fentanyl to potentially kill nearly 6,000 people, along with his violent behavior, underscores the importance of this conviction.”
Follow Bill Kaczaraba on X. Send news tips here.
