BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Eric Rivera, 39, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute of 400 grams or more fentanyl and being felon in possession of ammunition, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.Assistant U.S.
Attorney P. Richard Antoine, who handled the case, stated that on March 14, 2024, the Niagara Falls Police Department was executing a search warrant at an Ontario Avenue residence. Shortly after entering the residence, an investigator looked out the back door and saw a male throw a shopping bag over a fence, jump over the fence, and run, before entering an abandoned garage next door with the bag, and then exiting without the bag. The male looked back toward law enforcement vehicles, while attempting to hide.
Investigators quickly located the male identified as Rivera. A narcotics detection K-9 dog alerted to the presence of narcotics in the back of the garage, where investigators located the bag Rivera was seen holding. Investigators seized approximately 18 grams of cocaine and fentanyl, 642 grams of heroin and fentanyl, approximately eight grams of cocaine, 1511 grams of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, a firearm, magazines, and ammunition.In March 2007, Rivera was convicted in Erie County Court of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, New York Field Division.# # # #