Alberto Geddis Martinez, better known as Alpo Martinez, Abraham G. Rodriquez (

witness protection Witness protection is security provided to a threatened person providing testimonial evidence to the justice system, including defendants and other clients, before, during, and after trials, usually by police. While witnesses may only require p ...

), or more simply as Alpo or Po (June 8, 1966 – October 31, 2021) was an American drug dealer from Harlem, New York City, of Puerto Rican descent. He rose to prominence in the mid-1980s. In addition to New York, Martinez expanded his drug trade to other cities, notably

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

Biography

Martinez started selling drugs at 14 years old in

East Harlem East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem, or , is a neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City, north of the Upper East Side and bounded by 96th Street to the south, Fifth Avenue to the west, and the East and Harlem Rivers to the eas ...

. In 1985, he met West Side Harlem drug dealer

Azie Faison Azie Faison Jr. (born November 10, 1964), sometimes known by the nickname AZ, is an American former drug dealer and businessman from Harlem, New York City. He attained notoriety during the War on Drugs era as an individual drug dealer during the ...

. Martinez started to move up the chain of drug dealers in Harlem and eventually became one of the biggest drug dealers in the city. Martinez later moved to

to expand operations where he quickly became involved in the city's underworld and elevated his drug activities. He met Wayne 'Silk' Perry, a notorious gangster and D.C. enforcer, who would later become his bodyguard and hitman.

Arrest

On November 7, 1991, Martinez was arrested in Washington, D.C. for selling drugs. He was charged with conspiracy to commit murder, various drug charges, and 14 counts of murder, including the murder of former friend and drug dealing partner Rich Porter, D.C drug dealer Michael Anthony Salters aka 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.

2015 release

Martinez was released in 2015 while serving a 25-year sentence for 14 counts of murder at

ADX Florence United States Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum Facility (abbreviated as USP Florence ADMAX; commonly known as ADX Florence, Florence Supermax, and the Alcatraz of the Rockies) is a United States federal prison in Fremont County, Colorado, op ...

, a federal supermax prison located in Fremont County, Colorado. He was released after testifying against former associates and had been living under a United States

program in Lewiston, Maine, under the assumed name, Abraham G. Rodriquez, until shortly before his death in 2021. According to the website, Martinez was in the federal witness protection program awaiting a new identity.

Death

On the morning of October 31, 2021, at 3:30am, Martinez was fatally shot five times in

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater ...

, New York, while seated in his 2017 Dodge Ram according to various media outlets including ''

The Source The Source may refer to: Film and television * ''The Source'' (1918 film), 1918 American drama directed by George Melford * ''The Source'' (1999 film), a 1999 documentary film about the Beat generation * ''The Source'' (2002 film), a 2002 scienc ...

'' magazine,

Hot 97 WQHT (97.1 FM, ''Hot 97'') is a commercial radio station, licensed to New York, New York, which broadcasts an urban contemporary music format. The station is owned by Mediaco Holding, a subsidiary of the Standard General hedge fund. WQHT's st ...

AllHipHop ''AllHipHop'' is a hip-hop news website founded by Greg Watkins and Chuck Creekmur in 1998. History The website was founded in 1998 by Greg Watkins and Chuck Creekmur. In 1997, Watkins registered the allhiphop.com domain to promote the artist ...

and ''The New York Times''. Shakeem Parker was later charged with his murder. Shakeem Parker, 30, who was arrested in February 2022 and charged with the slaying of Martinez, was acquitted on July 13, 2024, in New York. Several media outlets reported that Martinez was killed over a road rage incident.

In popular culture

Martinez was portrayed by rapper and actor

Cam'ron Cameron Ezike Giles (born February 4, 1976), known Mononym, mononymously as Cam'ron, is an American rapper. Beginning his career in the early 1990s as Killa Cam, Giles signed with Lance Rivera, Lance "Un" Rivera's Lance Rivera, Untertainment, a ...

in the 2002 film '' Paid In Full'' which was based on the criminal exploits of Martinez, Azie Faison and Rich Porter. Martinez is referenced in several

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

and

rap Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates " rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backin ...

songs, including: *

50 Cent Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, and television producer. Born in Queens, a borough of New York City, Jackson began pursuing a musical career in 1996. In 1999–2000, ...

– Ghetto Qu'ran *

Big L Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974February 15, 1999), known professionally as Big L, was an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Emerging from Harlem in New York City in 1992, Big L became known among underground hip-hop fans for his f ...

– American Dream *

Bodega Bamz Nathaniel De La Rosa (born March 17, 1985), known professionally as Bodega Bamz, is an American rapper, songwriter and actor of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, from Spanish Harlem, New York. De La Rosa's 2012 mixtape, ''Strictly 4 My P.A. ...

– Bam Bam * Camron – Double Up *

Don Trip Christopher Wallace (born August 20, 1985), known professionally as Don Trip, is an American rapper. As a pioneer of the Memphis hip hop, Memphis sound, he has been releasing music since 2007. He is perhaps best known for his 2011 single, "Lette ...

Starlito Jermaine Eric Shute (born December 15, 1984), better known by his stage name Starlito, is an American rapper. He gained his first national look for the 2005 song "Grey Goose", which featured artists Young Jeezy and Yo Gotti. His second single, ...

– Caesar and Brutus *

Drake Drake may refer to: Animals and creatures * A male duck * Drake (mythology), a term related to and often synonymous with dragon People and fictional characters * Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family ...

–

Talk Up "Talk Up" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake (musician), Drake from his album, ''Scorpion (Drake album), Scorpion'' (2018). It features American rapper Jay-Z and additional uncredited vocals by Canadian rapper Baka Not Nice. The song reached the t ...

ft.

Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American Rapping, rapper, businessman, and record executive. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, he was named Billboard and Vibe's 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, the ...

* Eastside 80s – Alpo * Elcamino – Venice Beach ft.

Benny the Butcher Jeremie Damon Pennick (born November 27, 1984), known professionally as Benny the Butcher, or simply Benny, is an American rapper and songwriter. He came to prominence in 2018 following the release of his debut album, '' Tana Talk 3''. Along w ...

* Elias – Alpo Martinez *

Freddie Gibbs Fredrick Jamel Tipton (born June 14, 1982), better known by his stage name Freddie Gibbs, is an American rapper and songwriter. He signed with Interscope Records in 2006 and recorded his debut album for the label; however, its release was cance ...

and

Madlib Otis Lee Jackson Jr. (born October 24, 1973), known professionally as Madlib, is an American record producer, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, and rapper. Critically acclaimed for his eclectic, music sample, sample-heavy production style, he is rega ...

– Palmolive ft.

Pusha T Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as one half of the Virginia-based hip hop duo Clipse, which he formed with his older brother No Malice, Malice. M ...

and

Killer Mike Michael Santiago Render (born April 20, 1975), better known by his stage name Killer Mike, is an American rapper, singer and activist. He made his recording debut on Outkast's fourth album ''Stankonia'' (2000), and guest appeared on the duo's Gr ...

Future The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently ex ...

– In Her Mouth * The Game – Money * The Game – My Life *

–

La Familia La Familia ( "the family") may refer to: Film and television * ''La familia'' (film), or ''The Family'', a 2017 Venezuelan film * '' La familia'', a 1969 Mexican telenovela * La Familia Network, a 1994–2015 American Spanish-language TV network ...

K Koke Kevin Georgiou (born 22 May 1985), known professionally as K Koke, is an English-Irish-Cypriot rapper. His ''Fire in the Booth'' freestyle on Charlie Sloth's show on BBC Radio 1Xtra has over 25 million YouTube views. Music career His first m ...

– Why Not *

Lil Boosie Torence Ivy Hatch Jr. (born November 14, 1982), better known by his stage name Boosie BadAzz or simply Boosie (formerly Lil' Boosie), is an American rapper. Hatch began rapping in the 1990s as a member of the Southern hip hop collective Concentr ...

– Betrayed * Lucki - MADE MY DAY *

Meek Mill Robert Rihmeek Williams (born May 6, 1987), known professionally as Meek Mill, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he embarked on his career as a battle rapper, and later formed a short-lived rap group the Blo ...

– Rich Porter * Meek Mill – Tony Story *

Memphis Bleek Malik Deshawn Cox (born June 23, 1978), known by his stage name Memphis Bleek, is an American rapper. He is best known for his affiliation with fellow New York City-based rapper Jay-Z, with Cox often described as his hype man and protégé. Cox s ...

– My Mind Right (Remix) * Mysonne's "Freestyle on Funk Flex ot 97 *

Nas Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air (S ...

–

Memory Lane (Sittin' In Da Park) ''Memory Lane'' may refer to Film and television * ''Memory Lane'' (2024 film), a 2024 comedy drama film directed by Jelle de Jong * ''Memory Lane'' (2012 film), a 2012 science-fiction film directed by Shawn Holmes * ''Memory Lane'' (1926 film), ...

* Nas – Accident Murderers * Popperazzi Po – Alpo *

– F.I.F.A. *

Shad Da God Grand Hustle Records (formerly Grand Hustle Entertainment), also known as Hustle Gang Music, is an American hip hop record label, founded in 2003, by American rapper and record executive T.I. and his manager Jason Geter. The label was distribute ...

– Rich & Alpo *

Shyne Moses Michael Levi Barrow (born Jamal Michael Barrow; November 8, 1978), best known by his stage name Shyne, is a Belizean politician and former rapper. He served as Leader of the Opposition in the Belize House of Representatives, and the lead ...

– That's Gangsta *

Uncle Murda : ''For the American football player, see Len Grant'' Leonard Carl Grant (born June 25, 1980), better known by his stage name Uncle Murda, is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. He signed to 50 Cent's G-Unit Records in 2016, having previ ...

– Rap Up 2021 *Youngs Teflon &

K-Trap Devonte Kasi Martin Perkins (born 21 October 1995), professionally known as K-Trap, is a British rapper and songwriter from South London. He is known for his prominence in the UK drill scene, releasing notable mixtapes such as ''The Last Whip'' ...

– Alpo *G. Twilight & Maserati Rick Jr. – Keep Em' Close * Isha - Scanner * Jim Jones - My Diary *

Clavish Cian Francis William Wright (born 4 October 1998), known professionally as Clavish, is a British rapper from Stamford Hill, London. He is currently an independent artist who was previously signed to the German-British Universal subsidiary, Poly ...

- Daily Duppy Freestyle *

Scram Jones Marc Shemer (born November 5, 1977), better known by his stage name Scram Jones, is a producer, DJ and rapper from New Rochelle, New York. He has produced music for Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Styles P, Tragedy Khadafi, Jadakiss, Saigon, Dipset ...

– Memory Lane 2009 feat.

Doo Wop Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, ...

Nature Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the Ecosphere (planetary), ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the Scientific law, laws, elements and phenomenon, phenomena of the physic ...

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- GBP

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinez, Alpo 1966 births 2021 deaths American people of Puerto Rican descent Gang members People from East Harlem American drug traffickers Hispanic and Latino American gangsters People convicted of murder by the United States federal government Inmates of ADX Florence People from Washington, D.C. Criminals from Manhattan Gangsters from New York City