News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2005

Norwalk Man Pleads Guilty To Federal PCP Charge

June W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that KEVIN RIVERA, age 28, of Norwalk, Connecticut, pleaded guilty yesterday, August 29, in New Haven federal court to a federal charge of using a telephone to facilitate the distribution of phencyclidine ("PCP").

RIVERA is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Janet Bond Arterton on November 30, 2005, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

RIVERA was arrested as part of a federal investigation into a crack cocaine and PCP distribution ring operating in Fairfield County. Earlier this year, federal and local law enforcement officers arrested 30 individuals in Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk, and Bridgeport as part of the investigation. Law enforcement officers also conducted searches of nine residences in Connecticut and New York and recovered crack cocaine, PCP, drug packing materials, narcotics paraphernalia, and United States currency.

On March 9, 2005, a federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport returned a multi-count Indictment against RIVERA and others alleging various violations of the federal narcotics laws.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bridgeport Police Department, Easton Police Department, Stratford Police Department, Norwalk Police Department, Stamford Police Department,and Greenwich Police Department.