New York Man Sentenced in Multi-State Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

A New York resident has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for his role in a multi-state drug trafficking operation that moved narcotics from New York to West Virginia. The case marks a significant development in a broader federal initiative targeting organized drug activity in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

Jose Rivera, 37, of Queens, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Prosecutors said Rivera supplied close to three kilograms of cocaine to another individual involved in the network. That person then transported the drugs to Berkeley County, West Virginia, where they were sold as part of an operation that also distributed fentanyl and heroin.

Rivera’s conviction stems from a broader investigation led by several federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The operation, spanning multiple jurisdictions, uncovered a trafficking network with connections in New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia. Authorities seized drugs, weapons, and evidence of coordinated criminal activity involving transnational elements.

The investigation was part of Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative designed to dismantle cartels, combat illegal immigration-related crime, and suppress violent criminal networks. The effort incorporates resources from various Justice Department programs including the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia

Video Spotlight