Ran Drug Operation out of His Home
A Brentwood man was indicted for allegedly running a drug distribution operation out of his residence, selling cocaine to undercover narcotics officers, and possessing more than a kilogram of cocaine.
According to the investigation, Luis Rivera allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover police officer on three separate occasions last month. On May 26, members of the Suffolk County Police Department executed a search warrant at Rivera’s residence and allegedly recovered more than one kilogram of cocaine, approximately 45 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition, approximately $11,000 in cash, and drug paraphernalia used for the distribution and sale of narcotics, including a digital scale and packaging materials.
On June 22, Rivera was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro for the following charges:
- one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A felony
- three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies
- four counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies
- one count of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor
“The residents of Brentwood deserve to live without drug distribution operations running out of homes in their streets,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Thanks to the diligent work of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Narcotics Section, we have stopped a significant quantity of cocaine from entering our community.”
Ambro ordered Rivera held on $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond or $500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Rivera is due back in court on July 24 and faces eight to 20 years in prison if convicted of the top count.