Reading drug dealer sentenced to 4 to 20 years for selling fentanyl, other drugs

A Reading man admitted Monday that he had two stolen guns and bulk amounts of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl in his city apartment when authorities raided it last year.

Prosecutors said the drugs and guns were found in Roddy Sanchez-Martinez’s home, including floor-level kitchen cabinets within the reach of his young daughter. Judge Thomas G. Parisi said the troubling facts and the $66,000 found in the apartment clearly showed that Sanchez-Martinez was working as a drug dealer.

Sanchez-Martinez, 25, of the 100 block of North Fourth Street, entered an open guilty plea before Parisi to two counts of receiving stolen property and single counts of intending to deliver cocaine, heroin and fentanyl.

Parisi sentenced him to a total of four to 20 years in state prison, saying that a significant period of supervision was necessary due to the facts and nature of the offenses. Sanchez-Martinez received credit for 387 days.

Assistant District Attorney Molly McDonough asked for a sentence of 7 to 15 years in state prison, saying the dangerous combination of dealing substantial amounts of drugs and guns is the recipe for a lot of the trouble and violence occurring in the city.

She noted that the investigation into Sanchez-Martinez stemmed from an undercover detective attempting to buy heroin, but instead got pure fentanyl, a manufactured opioid that is often mixed with heroin and linked to fatal overdoses.

“This could have easily lead to a more significant event or situation,” she said.

Defense attorney Jay M. Nigrini asked for a sentence of three to six years, highlight Sanchez-Martinez young age and otherwise crime-free life. He said his client is a licensed barber who was trying to make a living to support his girlfriend and two daughters.

“Unfortunately, like many of my younger clients, he was trying to make a quick buck,” Nigrini said. “He was able to accumulate a significant amount of money at the time police executed the search of his residence.”

Sanchez-Martinez asked Parisi to forgive him and said he has learned a lot during his time in prison. He asked for an opportunity to continue to support his family.

“I did make one mistake and I’m asking you to forgive me for that mistake,” he said through an interpreter.

According to authorities:

Authorities continued to investigate Sanchez-Martinez after the Dec. 19, 2017, fentanyl sale at Rose and Washington streets. Police went to his home on March 23, 2018, to verify the identity of the person who sold the drugs to the undercover officers and found him inside with a woman and young child.

During the search, police seized 414 packets of heroin, 11 packets of cocaine, two packets of fentanyl, bulk heroin and other controlled substances. They also found two guns that had been reported stolen: A 9mm Smith and Wesson with two loaded magazines and a 9mm Glock with three loaded magazines.

In addition, authorities found four cellphones, drug paraphernalia, packaging materials and nearly $66,000 in cash, which was believed to be from drug sales.

Contact Stephanie Weaver: 610-371-5042 or sweaver@readingeagle.com.