California’s FRESNO. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday that a Madera man who unlawfully possessed firearms and ammunition had been sentenced to three years and two months in federal prison.
After a one-day trial in Fresno, 46-year-old Benjamin Martin was found guilty of charges related to a search of his house in September 2021. Eight firearms, including an AR-15-style rifle, several high-capacity magazines, and more than 500 rounds of ammunition, were found by FBI officers carrying out a warrant associated with the Capitol breach investigation on January 6. Martin’s previous conviction for domestic abuse, which included a restraining order, barred him from owning firearms.
After his detention, Martin tried to obstruct the inquiry, according to the prosecution, telling his fiancée over a taped jail conversation to make a fraudulent claim to the guns. Because of this witness manipulation, the sentence was increased.
Martin was found guilty on five charges in a different trial involving the Capitol breach, including allowing rioters to use missiles and chemical irritants to attack police officers by keeping a Capitol door open. His sentencing for those crimes is set for December 20 in Washington, D.C.
The FBI conducted the investigation, while the case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Tierney, Robert Veneman-Hughes, and Joseph Barton. At his next sentence, Martin might be subject to additional jail time and penalties.
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