BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jorge Rivera, 27, and Luis Rosario, 39, both of Buffalo, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiring and attempting to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward H. White, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on June 8, 2016, the United States Postal Inspection Service executed a search warrant for a parcel sent from Puerto Rico and addressed to Jorge Rivera at 465 Woodlawn Avenue in Buffalo. Law enforcement officers discovered a package containing a white powdery substance that field tested positive for cocaine. Later that same day, an undercover law enforcement officer delivered the package to the listed address, which contained sham cocaine. Rivera signed for the package. Subsequently, Rosario arrived at the residence and law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence. Rivera and Rosario fled to the lower apartment of the building and threw the package out a window which was recovered by the officers. The officers then arrested Rivera and Rosario.
The defendants made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer. Rivera was released on conditions; a detention hearing for Rosario is scheduled for June 13, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.
The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division and the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Shelly Binkowski.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
