Bridgeport Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm, Cocaine

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MIGUEL RIVERA, 34, formerly of Palisade Avenue, Bridgeport, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to 66 months of imprisonment for illegally possessing a firearm and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine. RIVERA pleaded guilty to the offenses on July 28, 2009.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 4, 2009, law enforcement officers with a federal warrant arrested RIVERA at his residence at 360 Palisades Avenue. While conducting a search of RIVERA’s apartment, officers seized more than 200 grams of cocaine, a loaded Glock 23 .40 caliber firearm, a digital scale used to weigh narcotics, and more than fifteen hundred small plastic bags commonly used to package drugs for street sale. The loaded firearm and most of the cocaine were found hidden inside a sofa in the apartment.

The year-long investigation that led to the indictment of RIVERA and 27 other individuals included the use of court-authorized wiretaps; controlled purchases and controlled deliveries of cocaine, crack and heroin; and physical surveillance. The investigation revealed that, from approximately January 2002 to February 2009, George Sanchez headed a large-scale cocaine and crack cocaine distribution ring operating in Bridgeport.

To date, 21 individuals have been convicted of charges stemming from their participation in the narcotics distribution conspiracy. On September 25, 2009, Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine. He awaits sentencing.

This matter was investigated by members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, which is composed of federal agents and state and local officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force, and the Bridgeport, Stamford, Stratford, Fairfield, Trumbull and Norwalk Police Departments. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hal Chen and Peter Markle.