Other names AlpoMayor of Harlem Occupation Illegal drug dealer | Name Alpo Martinez | |
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Full Name Alberto Geddis Martinez | ||
Conviction(s) 14 counts of homicide Similar Rich Porter, Azie Faison, Rayful Edmond Died October 31, 2021 (aged 55) Harlem, New York, New York, U.S. | ||
Harlem drug lord alberto alpo martinez aka rico released from federal prison
Alberto Geddis "Alpo" Martinez (June 8, 1966 – October 31, 2021) was a Puerto Rican former drug dealer who rose to prominence alongside Azie Faison and Rich Porter in the mid 1980s in Harlem during the War on Drugs. He went on to expand his drug trade to other parts of New York City, and to other cities in the Northeast, notably Washington D.C. Martinez was released in 2015 while serving a 35-year sentence for 14 counts of murder at ADX Florence, a federal supermax prison located in Fremont County, Colorado.
Contents
- Harlem drug lord alberto alpo martinez aka rico released from federal prison
- Life
- Arrest
- Pop culture
- Death
- References
Life
Martinez started selling drugs as early as 13 years old in East Harlem. When he met West side Harlem drug dealer Azie Fasion, Alpo started to move up the chain of drug dealers in Harlem and eventually became one of the biggest drug dealers in NYC. he later moved to Washington D.C. to expand operations where he quickly became involved in the underworld in the city and began drug dealing again. He met Wayne 'Silk' Perry, a notorious gangster and D.C. enforcer, who would later become his bodyguard and hitman. On January 3, 1990, Martinez and an accomplice murdered Rich Porter in The Bronx, New York, shooting the victim in the head and body several times. Martinez and Porter had previously been associates who sold drugs together. He has since apologized to the Porter family for the murder.
Arrest
In 1991, he was arrested in Washington D.C. for selling drugs. He was later charged with conspiracy to commit murder, various drug charges, and 14 counts of murder, including the murder of D.C drug dealer Michael Fray and Brooklyn drug dealer Demencio Benson. Facing the possibility of either the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, Martinez turned informant and testified against members of his organization. For his testimony against Perry (who received five consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole), Martinez was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
According to the website of the street wise publication Don Diva Magazine, 49 year old Alberto “Alpo” Martinez was released from ADX Florence federal prison in 2015. According to the website, Martinez is currently in the federal witness protection program awaiting his new identity.
Pop culture
The 2002 film Paid In Full was based on Alpo Martinez, Azie Faison and Rich Porter.
Martinez was referenced in the song Memory Lane (Sittin' In Da Park) by hip hop artist Nas on his debut album Illmatic (1994), "Uptown was Alpo son, heard he was kingpin yo."
Martinez was also referenced in the song "My Life" by rapper The Game.
Death
On the morning of October 31, 2021 Martinez was shot and killed in Harlem, New York, while seated in his 2017 Dodge Ram according to various media outlets including The Source magazine, Hot 97, AllHipHop and The New York Times.