justice

Antonio Rivera Guilty Plea

PROVIDENCE MAN ADMITS TO DRUG TRAFFICKING, FIREARM CHARGES

 

PROVIDENCE – A Providence man detained in federal custody since his arrest in December 2018 on drug and firearm charges pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to trafficking heroin and fentanyl, and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Antonio Rivera, 26, pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin, distribution of fentanyl, and felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kelly D. Brady, and Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.

Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Rivera admitted that on April 27, 2018, he sold an individual nearly 60 grams of heroin for $2,500, and on October 23, 2018, he sold an ATF undercover agent nearly 8.5 grams of fentanyl and a semi-automatic rifle with a high capacity magazine for $1,330.

Rivera is scheduled to be sentenced on October 15, 2019.

Distribution of fentanyl and distribution of heroin are punishable by statutory penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment followed by up to lifetime supervised release. Felon in possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.

The matter was investigated by ATF, the ATF Task Force, and the Providence Police Department, with the assistance of the Pawtucket Police Department and the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.