By: Richard L. Smith
Luis Martinez, a 35-year-old former resident of Newark, has been sentenced to 11 years in New Jersey State Prison for his involvement in the theft and possession of numerous firearms, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll.
The case dates back to January 6, 2023, when Martinez, along with accomplices, burglarized the FSS Armory store located in the Pine Brook section of Montville.
During the burglary, approximately 20 firearms were stolen from the business. Martinez was identified as a suspect through a comprehensive law enforcement investigation that utilized various techniques, including electronic surveillance, DNA analysis, and other technological methods.
During his guilty plea on October 13, 2023, in a court session presided over by the Honorable Claudia Jones, J.S.C., Martinez confessed to his involvement in the crime.
He admitted that on the early morning of January 6, 2023, he arrived at FSS Armory in a stolen vehicle with others.
Together, they broke into the gun store, stole the firearms, loaded them into the trunk of the stolen vehicle, and fled the scene.
On October 27, 2023, Judge Claudia Jones sentenced Martinez to 11 years in prison, with a requirement to serve 5 1/2 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Senior Assistant Prosecutor Erin Callahan represented the State during the sentencing.
In a related development, on September 14, 2023, Leila Acevedo was identified and charged as part of the investigation.
Acevedo faced charges of conspiracy, burglary, and gun possession.
The investigation is still ongoing to identify three additional co-conspirators who were present during the incident but have yet to be identified.
Prosecutor Carroll expressed his appreciation for the diligent efforts of law enforcement personnel involved in the case, including Montville Detective Keith Donnelly, detectives from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office’s Intelligence Unit, special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
Their combined efforts contributed to the successful investigation and prosecution of this case.
