Pittsfield man gets prison for accepting special delivery

Posted Thursday, September 19, 2013 5:27 am

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.

PITTSFIELD -- A Pittsfield man was sentenced to four years in state prison on Wednesday after admitting he received four pounds of marijuana through FedEx and for possessing a sawed-off shotgun, among other charges.

Daniel Martin, 29, of Parker Street, accepted a delivery of marijuana from a member of the Berkshire Drug Task Force dressed as a FedEx driver on March 7, 2012. After Martin accepted the package, a police raid ensued.

Police said that during the execution of the warrant they recovered a sawed-off shotgun and that Martin resisted arrest when being taken into custody. According to a police report, the investigation began when a FedEx driver reported smelling fresh marijuana wafting from a package being delivered to Martin.

A security specialist for the company began tracking packages sent to Martin's home and tipped off police when two more packages came through.

Article Continues After Advertisement

Martin received a total of nine packages of marijuana from Oregon in a month's time, police alleged.

Article Continues After These Ads

On Wednesday in Berkshire Superior Court, Martin pleaded guilty to felony possession of a shotgun and misdemeanor possession to distribute a Class D substance, resisting arrest, and possession of a firearm without a license. He was scheduled to go to trial Wednesday morning.

Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue, representing Martin, said his client didn't have a prior record and that the shotgun had belonged to a relative and was secured in a safe at the time of the raid.

Judge John A. Agostini sentenced Martin to at least 2 1/2 years and no more than four years in state prison, but recommended that Martin be allowed to serve his sentence at the Berkshire County Jail & House of Correction. The judge's sentence was in line with a joint recommendation by Assistant Berkshire District Attorney Richard M. Locke and Shugrue.

Article Continues After Advertisement

Martin had been free on bail following his arrest.

After his plea he was handcuffed and led away by court security guards.

To reach Andrew Amelinckx:

aamelinckx@berkshireeagle.com,

or (413) 496-6249.

On Twitter: @BE_TheAmelinckx