A Youngstown man was indicted today on charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
On Aug. 17, 2013, Santos R. Rivera, age 47, possessed more than 100 grams of heroin, which amount is indicative of heroin trafficking, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Ohio Highway State Patrol. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
