LAKE COUNTY — A joint law enforcement effort by U.S. Postal Service inspectors, State Parole agents and Robinson Rancheria Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)-commissioned police officers resulted in the arrest of a Nice resident Tuesday.
Octavio Martinez, 33, was booked into the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility on charges that he violated his parole.
An investigation began when U.S. Postal inspectors intercepted an out-of-state package containing more than $15,000 in cash. The package was allegedly addressed to Martinez at his residence on the Robinson Rancheria reservation. Authorities state that Martinez is on felony parole.
State Parole Agent Joe Giglio contacted Robinson BIA Sgt. John Irwin and informed Irwin of the investigation. The officers contacted Martinez at his residence and detained him. Both officers conducted a search of Martinez”s residence and vehicle. The search was consistent with the terms of Martinez”s parole agreement.
A number of items were allegedly located and seized, possibly relating to suspected drug activity in the form of packaging material, scales and hand-written documents.
Irwin said an unspecified amount of marijuana was also located and seized. It will be forwarded to a Department of Justice drug lab for testing and verification. A laptop computer belonging to Martinez was also seized.
The investigation regarding the $15,000 in cash, as well as Martinez”s possible connection with drug sales and trafficking is ongoing, according to Irwin.
Martinez could face new federal charges of possession of a controlled substance on federal property.
