United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(SYRACUSE, N.Y.) - Jeffrey Rivera, 34, of Utica, New York, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. The announcement was made by the United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, and New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach, II. The jury trial on the charge to which Rivera pled guilty was scheduled to begin today before Chief U.S. District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. 

As part of his guilty plea, the defendant admitted that he agreed with others, including the co-defendants charged in his case, to participate in a drug trafficking organization that distributed cocaine. The defendant also admitted that he obtained quantities of cocaine from co-conspirators within the organization and distributed, or arranged to distribute cocaine to others. 

Chief Judge Suddaby will sentence Jeffrey Rivera on October 25, 2018, at which time the defendant faces up to life in prison, a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. Rivera’s sentence will be imposed by Chief Judge Suddaby based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

The case was investigated by the DEA, the New York State Police-Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, The Oneida County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Rome Police Department, the City of Utica Police Department, and the Village of Yorkville Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Levine and Katherine King.