Meriden Man Sentenced In Drug, Gun Case: Feds

MERIDEN, CT — A city man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for drug-dealing and gun possession crimes, according to a statement from Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Jonathan Rivers, 39, will also serve four years of supervised release.

According to prosecutors, police arrested Rivers on Feb. 26, 2020. In a vehicle on his property, police found 575 grams of cocaine, more than 44 grams of crack cocaine, more than 52 grams of fentanyl, more than 26 grams of heroin, 690 grams of marijuana, a Highpoint Model HCP .40 caliber handgun, a Smith and Wesson Model 629-1 44 Magnum Revolver, a Romanian Model TTC 9mm handgun, and 18 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.

A quantity of crack cocaine was also found in a vehicle Rivers had driven earlier that day.

Rivers’ criminal history includes state convictions for robbery, kidnapping, and drug crimes.

Rivers pleaded guilty Sept. 29 to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Rivers, who is released on a $250,000 bond, is required to report to prison April 25.