Defendant accepted delivery of package he believed to contain cocaine
BOSTON - A Southbridge man was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for cocaine possession.
Revel Pedro Rivera, 42, was indicted on one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Rivera was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on July 7, 2020.
According to charging documents, in early July 2020, federal agents intercepted a package containing a kilogram of cocaine that was shipped to Rivera’s residence. Agents removed the cocaine and replaced it with a counterfeit substance. On July 6, 2020, Rivera accepted delivery of the package and was arrested as he left the property with the package that he believed contained cocaine.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Joseph W. Cronin, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Southbridge Police Chief Shane Woodson made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial Bennett of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
