Camden Man Sentenced for Leadership Role in Heroin Trafficking Ring

A Camden man was sentenced to 16 years in state prison for his role in major drug network with ties to the Ñetas street gang that was dealing large quantities of heroin in Camden, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced on Friday.

Michael “Bute” Rivera, 31, must serve 13 years, seven months before becoming eligible for parole. Rivera previously pleaded guilty to first-degree racketeering.

Rivera admitted that he and 44-year-old Noel Gonzalez led the ring, which was dismantled in 2012 through “Operation Billboard,” led by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice.

They were among 36 people indicted, and more than 30 have pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute narcotics, or narcotics distribution. All guilty pleas hav resulted in state prison sentences ranging from five to 10 years.

Gonzalez died of natural causes in June of 2013 with charges pending against him.

“Rivera and his ring of heroin dealers ruled their turf with violence and fear, peddling their poison in open-air drug markets near Camden’s Central Waterfront,” Hoffman said. “We broke their stranglehold on this neighborhood and cut off a major source of the heroin that is destroying so many young lives across New Jersey. In addition to enhancing our drug prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, we’ll continue to bust major narcotics rings such as this one.”

“In the past five years, we’ve partnered with law enforcement across the state to dismantle major heroin and prescription pill rings, including three violent heroin networks in Camden,” Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice said. “The lengthy prison sentences imposed on Rivera and over 30 of his co-defendants demonstrate our resolve to bring the full force of the law to bear on criminals who fuel and exploit the opiate addiction problem in New Jersey.”

The investigation revealed that Gonzalez and Rivera ran a large-scale drug distribution network that was dealing up to tens of thousands of dollars in heroin per week.

In addition to Gonzalez, who was a reputed member of the Ñetas, the leadership of the ring included other members of the Ñetas and Latin Kings street gangs.

The ring had a well-defined hierarchy and used guns and violence to protect its turf.

At the time of the initial arrests, investigators executed search warrants at Gonzalez’s residence and four other residences.

During the arrests and searches, authorities seized approximately three-quarters of a kilo of heroin; approximately $52,000 in cash; about $20,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency, and a .40-caliber handgun. Eight vehicles also were seized.

The attached image of Michael Rivera was provided by the Attorney General’s Office