Daniel Diaz-Rivera, also known by aliases such as "Danny," "Lupin," "Lupito," and "L," was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for leading a drug trafficking organization in Waterbury. The sentence was delivered by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford, followed by four years of supervised release.
The FBI's Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force investigated two major drug trafficking organizations in Waterbury. One was led by Angel Quiros, operating around William Street, while the other was managed by Diaz-Rivera near Maple Avenue. The investigation utilized wiretaps, video surveillance, GPS tracking, and controlled narcotic purchases to reveal that both groups distributed cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through an extensive network of sellers.
Diaz-Rivera's operation involved selling crack and fentanyl at all hours outside a bodega on Maple Avenue. He oversaw several shift bosses who managed street-level distributors. During the investigation, authorities made controlled purchases directly from Diaz-Rivera and noted his use of violence to maintain control over his network.
In November 2023, Diaz-Rivera and Quiros were among 17 individuals charged with federal offenses following the investigation. Subsequent searches resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of drugs, firearms, ammunition, and cash.
Diaz-Rivera pleaded guilty on January 24, 2025, to conspiracy charges related to distributing cocaine. He has been detained since his arrest. Quiros also pleaded guilty to similar charges and is awaiting sentencing.
The investigation involved collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies including the FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force which includes members from local police departments and federal agencies such as the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel are prosecuting this case under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.
U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan acknowledged the cooperation received from the Waterbury State Attorney’s Office during this process.
