A Worcester man, previously in the hot seat for having an illegal machinegun, has admitted to drug peddling, too. According to a statement on the Department of Justice's website, Jose Rivera, aged 24, copped a plea yesterday on charges including possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Rivera, who is no stranger to the courtroom, faced down increased scrutiny after a search last year turned up incriminating evidence; three Glock switches designed to turn semi-automatics into automatic fire monsters, a loaded Glock .40, and enough ammo to start his own small war, all were seized from his residence on March 7 2023, and that wasn't all, he was also caught sitting on cocaine parcels ready for the streets and $9,000 in cold cash – the man was clearly busy. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman penciled him in for sentencing on June 28.
Caught red-handed, Rivera's plea could land him behind bars for a lengthy stretch – the machinegun charge alone might lock him away for 10 years, not to forget that his drug dealing and arming up while facing other felonies could net penalty checks tallied up to $1.25 million, because dealing coke can earn you up to 20 years, fittingly serious time for serious crime, all this hinges on federal sentencing guidelines and the judge's ultimate call. "Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy," alongside ATF and local police brass, spotlighted the guilty plea in announcements, possibly sending a stern warning to would-be kingpins.
Rivera’s case reflects the ongoing fight against violent crimes and gun abuse on our streets. It's part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aiming to crack down on this type of crime. The program focuses on building community connections and reducing violent crime by combining police efforts with community involvement. Since May 2021, it's been making people feel safer in their neighborhoods, showing real results, not just words.
