Toledo man indicted for selling six kilograms of heroin

A Toledo man was indicted for distributing six kilograms of heroin, said David A. Sierleja, Acting U.S. States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon.

Ricardo Rivera, 40, was indicted on one count distribution of approximately six kilograms of heroin. He was arrested last month after DEA agents observed him take a black duffel bag from 1443 Western Avenue in Toledo and place it in the trunk of a vehicle. That car was stopped in North Baltimore, Ohio, and found to have six kilograms of heroin, according to court documents.

“We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who traffic the heroin and opioids that have killed so many of our neighbors and relatives,” Sierleja said. “Only through enforcement, combined with education and prevention efforts, can we hope to turn the tide on this epidemic.”

“This investigation demonstrates that the disruption of heroin trafficking and putting the brakes on the current opioid epidemic is DEA’s top priority,” Plancon said. “The seizure of six kilograms of heroin in Toledo is significant, and not only puts a dent into heroin trafficking in the community, but also illustrates that DEA and our partners in law enforcement are working hard to slow the supply of this deadly drug into the region.”

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigating agency in this case is the Drug Enforcement Administration, in Toledo. case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Freeman.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.