Orlando, Florida - Senior U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp sentenced Luis A. Rivera (47, Orlando) to 27 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Rivera pleaded guilty on May 28, 2014. He was sentenced on Aug. 20, 2014.
According to court documents, Rivera, who has multiple previous drug trafficking convictions, packaged at least twenty firearms to mail to Puerto Rico as part of an illegal firearms trafficking ring. These firearms included a number of "assault" style rifles with high capacity magazines. Due to his prior felony convictions, Rivera was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. In addition, his extensive criminal history qualified him for an enhanced sentenced as an Armed Career Criminal.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vincent S. Chiu.
This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods" program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy. United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Trevor Velinor, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is another example of ATF’s Frontline Strategy to impact violent crime within our communities.
