Buffalo Man Sentenced On Drug Charge

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Hector Rivera, 44, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin, was sentenced to 78 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Mary Clare Kane, who handled the case, stated that between August of 2008 and June 5, 2009, the defendant conspired with others to possess and sell heroin and cocaine in the City of Buffalo. During the investigation, law enforcement officers utilized a number of confidential sources and made a number of undercover purchases of cocaine and heroin prior to obtaining authority to intercept the telephone calls of Rivera. Intercepted conversations revealed that defendant secured kilogram quantities of cocaine from a source of supply based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In addition, investigators learned that that Rivera also conducted heroin transactions   When he was arrested in May of 2008, officerss seized 58 bundles of heroin and approximately $4,831 in U.S. currency.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Michael Cerretto.