Benjamin Martin, a 46-year-old Madera man, was convicted of firearms violations mere months after his conviction for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol breach, as announced by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. The Fresno trial, which lasted a single day, concluded with Martin being found guilty of possessing guns and ammo illegally, a violation spurred by his past criminal record involving domestic violence.
During the FBI's 2021 raid on Martin's home, they uncovered an arsenal that included eight firearms, magazines capable of holding an extensive number of rounds for an AR-15 style rifle and over 500 rounds of ammunition, which Martin was barred from owning due to a previous conviction for domestic violence – a conviction that included choking his at-the-time girlfriend and forcibly pulling her back into their shared residence when she attempted to escape the abusive environment.
Further incriminating Martin was a recorded jailhouse conversation, obtained by the authorities, where he was caught directing his then-fiancée to deceive law enforcement by claiming that the firearms belonged not to him but to her and her father, asserting his ignorance of their existence which she agreed to corroborate.
Earlier, Martin faced trial in Washington, D.C., for participating in the riot at the Capitol, serving as evidence presented at the trial showed that he assisted other rioters in their attack on law enforcement by holding a door open at the Capitol to allow them in so they could spray irritants and project missiles upon the officers attempting to secure the building, Martin was ultimately convicted on all counts, including two felonies related to civil disorder and obstructing an official proceeding, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California.
Martin awaits sentencing for the firearms charges on November 25, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston in Fresno, where he may receive up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while sentencing for his involvement in the Capitol breach is scheduled for November 15, before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras in Washington, D.C., where he faces additional penalties. The final sentencing decisions will take into account statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
