Buffalo Man Charged With Possession Of Crack Cocaine Following A Traffic Stop

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Luis Acevedo Rivera, 23, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possessing with the intent to distribute, and distributing, 500 grams or more of cocaine.  The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah E. Lenihan, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on May 3, 2019, at approximately 4:45 p.m., a marked unit from the Erie County Sherriff's Department initiated a vehicle and traffic stop of a Jeep Compass rental vehicle being operated by the defendant in the vicinity of 975 Hertel Avenue in Buffalo. A white plastic grocery bag was observed in plain view on the front passenger floorboard of the vehicle.

Rivera was asked for consent to search the vehicle and declined. Thereafter, following additional investigation, a search warrant for the vehicle was obtained and executed, and a quantity of suspected cocaine was recovered from the white plastic grocery bag.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

# # # #