News Release
For Immediate Release:
December 14, 2009
Contact: Special Agent Tony Pettigrew
Number: 617-557-2138

Waterbury Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Trafficking Cocaine

DEC 14 -- Steven W. Derr, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that PLACIDO RIVERA, 27, of Waterbury, was sentenced on Friday, December 10, by Senior United States District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for his role in cocaine trafficking ring. On August 31, 2009, RIVERA pleaded guilty to one count of using a telephone to facilitate the distribution of cocaine.

This matter stems from “Operation Still Standing,” a wiretap investigation conducted by the DEA, FBI, and Connecticut State Police between April and June 2008 into a drug trafficking ring that was distributing large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine in and around Waterbury. According to court documents and statements made in court, RIVERA was intercepted over the wiretap ordering approximately 50 grams of cocaine.

This investigation was a collaborative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration the Connecticut State Police and the Waterbury Police Department.