Reading man convicted for drug deliveries that resulted in fatal overdoses | Reading Area

READING, Pa. – A Berks County man was convicted by a jury Thursday for his role in a string of fatal drug overdoses from nearly four years ago.

Jesus Martinez-Espinal, 38, of Reading, was convicted of nine counts of drug delivery resulting in death, as well as multiple other delivery charges, the Berks County District Attorney’s Office announced.

On April 9, 2022, the Reading Police Department responded to numerous overdose deaths caused by crack cocaine laced with fentanyl, according the DA’s Office.

Police say Martinez-Espinal was selling the drugs out of 855 Penn St., along with his co-defendants: Melanie Emerich, Jesus Santiago-Caceres and Angelo Torres.

Martinez-Espinal was apprehended in Charlottesville, North Carolina, at a family member’s residence, police said. He also had local theft charges in Charlottesville.

Martinez-Espinal’s sentencing date is Dec. 16.

Copyright 2026 Maranatha Broadcasting Co., Inc.. All Rights Reserved.