Crime
Bristol County District Attorney: Leader of drug trafficking organization sentenced to prison in Fall River Superior Court
Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 39-year-old New Bedford man pled guilty and was sentenced in the Fall River Superior Court to State Prison.
Geraldo Rivera will serve 5 to 7 years in State Prison followed by 2 years of probation for charges of Trafficking in Fentanyl over 36 grams, Trafficking in Fentanyl over 10 grams, Trafficking in Cocaine over 18 grams and Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws. The Commonwealth recommended a State Prison sentence of 6 to 9 years.
In 2019, the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office along with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization in New Bedford, of which Rivera was identified as the leader. Wiretap warrants were secured for the defendant’s phone and those of several individuals identified as associates and suppliers. The warrants concluded on June 11, 2021, which lead to the charges and arrests of several individuals. Rivera was the primary target of the investigation, and it was determined that he coordinated a large-scale drug trafficking ring in the New Bedford area.
“The defendant is the leader of a Drug Trafficking Organization that was providing Fentanyl to New Bedford and the surrounding area. Fortunately, a court ordered wiretap was successful in providing evidence against the defendant and co-defendants that would otherwise not been available. The longer sentence recommended by the Commonwealth would have been more appropriate. The defendant is the last of the individuals to resolve his case as part of the successful wiretap prosecution. Other defendants were charged which resulted in a number of prison sentences. I would like to thank the investigators for their efforts in this matter.,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Daniel Walsh.
