Meridian Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Federal Gun, Drug, and Obstruction Offenses

BOISE - Bart Thomas Martin, 29, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for drug trafficking, possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and obstruction of justice, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.

According to court records, Martin operated a drug trafficking operation where he received large quantities of drugs in the mail and further distributed those drugs in Idaho. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service arrested Martin in April 2024 in possession of approximately 900 grams of methamphetamine. Martin was booked into jail and later made a phone call to another individual requesting that individual remove evidence from his apartment. Investigators subsequently seized a safe from Martin's apartment, which contained large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as five firearms.

"This case is an excellent example of the successful cooperation between federal and state law enforcement here in Idaho," U.S. Attorney Hurwit said. "Lengthy prison sentences are part and parcel of federal drug trafficking and firearm crimes. Our Project Safe Neighborhoods team does a great job making our streets safer."

"Traffickers like Martin and their operations continue to wreak havoc on our communities," said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti. "He will spend more than a decade behind bars because of the great work by Inspectors, Officers and Prosecutors across the state of Idaho. Partnerships like Project Safe Neighborhoods are what deliver these kind of results. We will continue to do the work day in and day out to serve our communities and bring these traffickers to justice"

"This case demonstrates the severe consequences that accompany drug trafficking and firearm-related crimes in Idaho. The Idaho State Police remains dedicated to working alongside federal partners to bring individuals to justice and to protect our communities from the dangers of illicit drugs. ISP is committed to continuing our efforts to curb drug trafficking and prevent the harm it inflicts on our state," said Investigations Lieutenant Jack Catlin of the Idaho State Police.

Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Martin to complete four years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence.

U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Idaho State Police for their work on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Zebari prosecuted this case.

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 violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department 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.

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