Lowell Man Charged With Drug and Firearm Offenses

BOSTON - A Lowell man was charged today in federal court in Worcester with drug and firearm offenses.

Pablo L. Rivera, 53, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Rivera was charged by complaint in February 2019 and is currently in federal custody.

According to court documents, Rivera was arrested on state charges on Feb. 8, 2019, after a motor vehicle stop in which law enforcement recovered a loaded P-38 Walther 9mm firearm, six rounds of ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and a plastic baggie containing approximately 10 grams of heroin from the vehicle Rivera was driving. Rivera is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior convictions punishable by more than one year in prison, including a prior conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The felon in possession charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The possession with intent to distribute charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime charge provides for a mandatory five year sentence to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. 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; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Sun of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.