ALBANY — A Terrell County man was sentenced to 30 years in prison in a cocaine conspiracy that reached into a number of Southwest Georgia counties.

Nolberto Martinez, also known as “Negro,” 31, was sentenced to serve 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine and distribution of cocaine.

The sentence was handed down Wednesday by Senior U.S. District Court Judge W. Louis Sands in Albany.

Martinez was convicted on Sept. 5, 2013, following a 20-day jury trial. Testimony at trial revealed Martinez was a member of the Gulf Cartel that supplied cocaine to Middle Georgia.

From 2007 to Oct. 2011, Martinez was involved in a large-scale cocaine and crack cocaine distribution organization responsible for the distribution of more than 500 kilograms of cocaine in Berrien, Colquitt, Dougherty, Tift, Lowndes, Terrell, Turner, Seminole, Ware, and Calhoun counties.

The cartel worked from Matamoros, Mexico, placing cocaine inside hidden compartments of specially equipped vehicles.

A number of additional members of the drug conspiracy have previously been sentenced. They include:

• Carlos Johnson — Life in prison

• Kelvin Johnson — Life in prison

• Bobby Taylor — 30 years imprisonment

• Gary Lockett — 21.8 years imprisonment

• Stuart Cole — 15.6 years imprisonment

• William McKeithen — 15.6 years imprisonment

• Raymond Sutton— 14 years imprisonment

• Mark Cleveland Simpson — 13 years imprisonment

• T’Michael Jones — 12.25 years imprisonment

• Casey Clemons —10 years imprisonment

• Octavio Sandoval — 8.3 years imprisonment

• Antonio Wimbush — 7.25 years imprisonment

• James Willis — 6.7 years imprisonment

• Francisco Javier Arispe — 5.8 years imprisonment

• M. Nichole Sheffield — 4 years imprisonment.

• Baldemar Chavero Leal — 3.8 years imprisonment

• W. Alvin Barge — 2 years imprisonment

Michael J. Moore, Middle District U.S. attorney, said, “We have seen an alarming increase in the distribution of drugs from Mexico to the Middle District of Georgia. With these drugs come violence and the devastation of untold numbers of lives. These organizations, whether you call them cartels or simply gangs, will find no safe haven in Middle Georgia. We will spare no effort or resource to make sure that we dismantle these drug distribution organizations. With the lengthy sentences for many of these defendants, we can all sleep a little better knowing that they will be off our streets for years to come. ”

“DEA and its law enforcement counterparts orchestrated a well-planned and coordinated assault against this well-established Mexican-based drug cartel that was operating in the Middle District of Georgia. Mexican drug cartels are the source of so many dangerous drugs destined for our country and are responsible for much of the violence in Mexico today. Because of the unified effort between DEA and its law enforcement counterparts, this once-thriving organization will no longer be able to wreak havoc on our society,” John S. Comer, acting special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency, Atlanta field division, said of the sentencing.

“The successful prosecution of these individuals is the result of commitment and hard work by the men and women working in local, state, and federal law enforcement. The GBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners as we continue to identify and investigate individuals involved in drug trafficking in Georgia,” said Vernon Keenan, Georgia Bureau of Investigation director.

The case was investigated by agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Bainbridge Department of Public Safety and Georgia State Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah E. McEwen prosecuted the case for the government.