(WNY News Now) – A California man has been sentenced to 126 months in federal prison for his role in a multi-state narcotics trafficking operation involving methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana shipped between California and Western New York.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that La D. Huynh, 43, of Chula Vista, California, was sentenced to 126 months (10 years and 6 months) in federal prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. after previously pleading guilty to narcotics conspiracy.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, Huynh operated as a California-based drug supplier who distributed large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin/fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana to co-conspirators, including Jamestown-based trafficker Jun Martinez.
Federal prosecutors said the conspiracy began to deteriorate in 2019 following a payment dispute over a methamphetamine shipment, which temporarily halted communications between Huynh and Martinez. However, the two resumed their drug trafficking activities in 2020, with Huynh allegedly shipping narcotics from the San Diego, California, area to co-conspirators in the Eastern United States.
In September 2020, Martinez traveled to California and met with Huynh and co-conspirator Kevin Hughes. During that meeting, Martinez received large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. Law enforcement later determined that Martinez and Hughes began transporting the drugs back toward Western New York.
On September 15, 2020, an Illinois State Police trooper conducted a traffic stop on Martinez and Hughes during their return trip. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of approximately 6,359 grams of methamphetamine, 3,157 grams of fentanyl, 2,241 grams of cocaine, and marijuana products. Both individuals were arrested and charged under Illinois state law.
Subsequent enforcement actions expanded the investigation. On October 16, 2020, authorities executed a search warrant at Martinez’s residence on Wescott Street, where they recovered 438 grams of methamphetamine and approximately $62,000 in cash.
On July 9, 2021, California law enforcement conducted a traffic stop involving Huynh. Narcotics were discovered in the vehicle’s trunk, and a follow-up search warrant resulted in the seizure of two cardboard boxes containing approximately 101 kilograms of cocaine.
Co-defendants in the case have also been prosecuted. Martinez has been previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing, while Hughes has already been convicted and sentenced.
Officials stated the case was part of Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative aimed at disrupting transnational criminal organizations and major drug trafficking networks. The program coordinates resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Jamestown Police Department under Chief Scott Forster, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration under Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam of the New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff James Quattrone.
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