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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Tips for safe, legal fireworks ... Grand jury considers FBI's use of force in Finicum refuge standoff shooting ... Railroad to replace bolts after fiery Oregon oil train derailment ... Tips for safe, legal fireworks ... Grand jury considers FBI's use of force in Finicum refuge standoff shooting ... Railroad to replace bolts after fiery Oregon oil train derailment ... FEDERAL COURT Court returns $30,000 seized from Phoenix man in 2013 Of $50,000 seized from Alberto Rincon Martinez, feds will keep $19,208 Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jun. 23, 2016 at 11:58 AM Updated Jun 23, 2016 at 2:58 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jun. 23, 2016 at 11:58 AM Updated Jun 23, 2016 at 2:58 PM » Social News A federal judge returned $30,000 Tuesday to a Phoenix man who had nearly $50,000 seized from his home by federal agents. The agents said they believed Alberto Rincon Martinez, of the 600 block of West First Street, was involved in a marijuana-growing operation on national forest lands. Martinez was never charged with any crime, court records show, but authorities seized $48,156 from a safe, $1,052 from his wallet, 43 grams of marijuana and 14 firearms, including one revolver, seven rifles, two shotguns and four pistols. The weapons will be forfeited. The money was seized by Drug Enforcement Administration agents in July 2013. The agents said surveillance cameras in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest showed Martinez and his vehicles near a marijuana grow site near Beaver Creek Road and Pete's Camp Creek north of Applegate Road. Footage allegedly showed Martinez and others unloading food and fertilizer near the site. Some of the men in the footage were armed, court documents said. The DEA seized 2,828 marijuana plants from the grow site. Martinez told investigators he had so much money on hand because he didn't believe in banks. He said the money came from a 401(k) account he had cashed out, savings earned as a landscaper and Gold Hill farmer, and cash savings from Social Security checks. Martinez denied any wrongdoing connected with the illegal grow site, court documents show. When shown surveillance footage, Martinez told agents he was showing the area to friends visiting from Los Angeles who "wanted to see the woods," documents say. He denied any knowledge of marijuana growing in the woods. As part of the settlement agreement, U.S. attorneys will return $30,000 to Martinez. Fourteen firearms and $19,208 will be forfeited to the DEA, U.S. District Court documents show. Circuit Court records show Martinez has a past felony conviction for participating in cockfighting in June 2012 at Willamette Egg Farms in Eagle Point. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jun. 23, 2016 at 11:58 AM Updated Jun 23, 2016 at 2:58 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501