United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW BRITAIN MAN INVOLVED IN CRACK CONSPIRACY SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RICHARD RIVERA, 33, of New Britain was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven to 121 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.  On July 8, 2008, RIVERA pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”).

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, in October 2007, RIVERA and James Scott of Biddeford, Maine, conspired to distribute crack cocaine.  As part of the conspiracy, on October 14, 2007, RIVERA purchased approximately nine ounces of powder cocaine in Newington, Connecticut.  RIVERA then transported the powder cocaine to a motel room in Biddeford where Scott “cooked” the cocaine into approximately nine ounces of crack.  On October 18, 2007, RIVERA and Scott drove RIVERA’s blue station wagon, which contained approximately 246 grams of crack, from Maine to Manchester, Connecticut, for the purpose of selling the crack.  They were arrested at that time.

Scott pleaded guilty to the same charge on August 28, 2008.  He awaits sentencing and faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manchester Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov