BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration New York Division Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan and U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Julian Rivera, 30, of Buffalo, New York, who was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute heroin, butyryl fentanyl, and U-47700, was sentenced to serve 38 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul C. Parisi and Meghan E. Leydecker, who handled the case, stated that between March and May 2017, an undercover officer purchased heroin, butyryl fentanyl, and U-47700 from Rivera, co-defendant Craig Lester, and others, on 12 separate dates. On several occasions, the defendant was the person who negotiated the price of the drugs with the undercover officer. Many of the transactions took place inside a residence at 28 Echols Lane in Buffalo.
On April 7, 2017, Rivera was walking in the Towne Gardens Housing Complex in Buffalo, where Buffalo Police officers observed him holding what appeared to be heroin and its packaging. The defendant fled from officers but was subsequently arrested carrying 231 glassine envelopes of a mixture of heroin, butyryl fentanyl, and U-47700 in his pocket. Officers also recovered packaging for heroin and a large rock of suspected heroin in the doorway at 28 Echols Lane and two bundles of suspected heroin from Rivera’s clothing.
Defendant Craig Lester was previously convicted and sentenced.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department and the DEA’s Buffalo Resident Office.
