Former Federal Inmate Sentenced to Eight Months for Possessing a Weapon and Alcohol in Butner Prison

<_w3a_listitem listvalue="RALEIGH" datavalue="RALEIGH"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="GREENVILLE" datavalue="GREENVILLE"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="NEW BERN" datavalue="NEW BERN"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="WILMINGTON" datavalue="WILMINGTON"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="ELIZABETH CITY" datavalue="ELIZABETH CITY">ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. - A former federal inmate previously housed at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina ("FMC Butner") was sentenced to eight months incarceration for possessing a weapon and alcohol inside the federal prison.

"We are prioritizing prison contraband cases for prosecution, and proud of our tight partnership with the Bureau of Prisons on these cases," said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. "Taking a hard line on prison contraband - especially drugs, weapons, and cellphones - is vital to the safety of our corrections professionals and other inmates. We won't stop till our federal facilities are as safe and secure as they can possibly be."

According to court documents, Gencis Martinez-Rodriguez, 30, an inmate located at FMC Butner at the time of the offense, was found by Federal Bureau of Prisons ("BOP") staff to be in possession of a homemade sharpened weapon, which Martinez-Rodriguez had attempted to conceal in the waistband of his pants. After conducting a search of his cell, BOP staff also discovered that Martinez-Rodriguez was in possession of an alcoholic liquid. Martinez-Rodriguez was charged by way of a two count indictment for possession of contraband in prison. On June 20, 2024, Martinez-Rodriguez pled guilty to both counts. Martinez-Rodriguez received eight months incarceration on each count to be served concurrently.

Martinez-Rodriguez's convictions for possession of a weapon and alcohol also make him ineligible to earn time credits under the First Step Act, which allows federal inmates to earn up to 365 days off of their sentence for participating in eligible programming while incarcerated.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Merrill Ward prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-00041-BO-BM.