Hartford Man Sentenced On Drug Trafficking Charges: Feds

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man has been sentenced to five years in prison for drug trafficking, according to a statement from federal prosecutors. Pedro Rivera, aka "Heavy," 42, will also serve five years of supervised release.

According to prosecutors: In August 2017, law enforcement launched an investigation into a drug trafficking ring selling large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine in Hartford.

Rivera was part of an organization run by Julio Oliveras, also known as “Cuzzo Jay.” The investigation revealed that Oliveras and his associates supplied drugs to several Hartford-area drug dealers, including Rivera, and used multiple locations in Hartford to process, store, and distribute drugs.

Rivera was regularly intercepted on wiretaps ordering fentanyl and heroin, typically in 50-gram or 100-gram quantities, and wholesale quantities of cocaine, from Oliveras.

Rivera, Oliveras, and other members of the organization were arrested July 19, 2018.

On that date, investigators executed 10 search warrants and seized approximately 2.7 kilograms of fentanyl, one kilogram of heroin, approximately 500 grams of crack cocaine, 100 grams of cocaine, eight firearms, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, cash, and other evidence of drug trafficking activity.

The drugs and guns were found at a stash house Oliveras maintained, a storage unit he rented, and the residences of his associates.

On Aug. 2, 2018, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Rivera, Oliveras, and 14 co-defendants with various offenses.

Last August, Rivera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine.

Oliveras pleaded guilty to narcotics and firearm offenses and was sentenced to 186 months of imprisonment in January.

This is Rivera’s second federal conviction. In September 2004, he was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment for distributing large quantities of crack cocaine.