Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms Offense

BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to a federal firearms charge.

Steven Rivera, 24, pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition.  U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for April 12, 2018.  Rivera was arrested on June 29, 2017, as part of a coordinated federal and state law enforcement operation that resulted in the arrests of nine individuals who have been charged with firearms-related offenses. 

On Feb. 14, 2017, Rivera – who has multiple prior felony convictions, including drug-related offenses – sold two handguns and numerous rounds of ammunition to a cooperating source in Worcester.  On Feb. 28, 2017, Rivera sold the cooperating source two more handguns and numerous rounds of ammunition.

The charge of possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.