Images featured in a charging document showing Benjamin Martin of Madera at the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. (USDOJ)
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A Madera man previously convicted for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach was sentenced Monday to three years and two months in prison for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
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Benjamin Martin, 46, was found guilty of firearms charges after a one-day trial in Fresno.
Prosecutors presented evidence that in September 2021, FBI agents executing a search warrant at Martin’s home discovered eight firearms, including an AR-15-style rifle, multiple high-capacity magazines, and more than 500 rounds of ammunition.
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Martin was prohibited from owning firearms due to a prior domestic violence conviction involving an assault on his then-girlfriend.
Authorities also revealed that Martin instructed his fiancée to lie about the seized firearms on a recorded jail call, claiming they belonged to her and her father.
This led to an enhancement of Martin’s sentence for witness tampering.
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Martin’s legal troubles extend beyond California. In Washington, D.C., he was recently convicted on five counts related to the Capitol breach, including holding open a door to allow other rioters to attack officers with chemical sprays and projectiles.
He is scheduled for sentencing in that case on Dec. 20, where he faces additional prison time and fines.
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