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David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 months ago on
February 7, 2025

Ben Martin was transferred Friday to the federal prison at Lompoc to start serving his sentence. (GV Wire Composite)

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Federal authorities transferred Benjamin Martin to a prison early Friday morning in Lompoc to start serving 38 months for gun-related charges.

Martin, the Madera County man convicted on Jan. 6-related offenses, was also convicted of a gun offense in a different trial.

“We can confirm Benjamin Martin is in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Lompoc,” FBOP spokesperson Donald Murphy told GV Wire.

Martin faced two federal trials last year — for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol; and a subsequent gun charge. He was found guilty both times.

A one-time local real estate agent, Martin became well known for his conservative activism, often protesting at stores during the pandemic because of restrictive policies.

Guilty in Two Federal Court Cases

Last June, a federal jury in Washington, D.C., convicted him of two felonies and several misdemeanors for his role in the attack on the Capitol. Investigators accused Martin of holding a door open while others entered.

Last September, Fresno-based federal Judge Jennifer Thurston found Martin guilty of a gun-related offense stemming from the FBI’s Jan. 6 investigation. Law enforcement officers found firearms in the safe of Martin’s home in Madera County.

Because of a previous state court conviction in 2018 for domestic violence, Martin was not allowed to possess firearms. He claimed the firearms belonged to his fiancée and her father.

Martin received 13 months for the Jan. 6 crimes and 38 months for the gun offense.

After surrendering to federal authorities on Jan. 21, U.S. marshals transferred Martin to a holding facility in McFarland, operated by the GEO Group, before his transfer this morning.

In an executive order in his first day in office, President Donald Trump granted a “complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.”

Martin’s family posted an image of the pardon that came through on Feb. 5 on his existing X profile. Neither federal authorities nor attorney Nate Miller, representing the Martin family, would confirm its authenticity.

With the Jan. 6 pardon, Martin would only serve the 38-month sentence, less any time for good behavior.

Martin has appealed his gun-related case to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal. The case is pending.

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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