HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania – In a major blow to the city’s narcotics trade, Efrain Troche-Rivera, a 35-year-old Harrisburg resident, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a large-scale cocaine distribution conspiracy.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Troche-Rivera was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, a highly addictive and potent form of the illicit substance.
The investigation, led by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), uncovered a complex network of traffickers who were shipping cocaine from Puerto Rico into the Harrisburg area via child booster seats in the mail.
Troche-Rivera’s co-defendant, Geraldo Rodriguez-Diaz, a 23-year-old Harrisburg resident, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and is awaiting sentencing. Rodriguez-Diaz was also found to be in possession of a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun, which was connected to the offense.
The case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (VCRP), a district-wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.
Troche-Rivera was sentenced on December 19, 2017, by United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo. The charges against him carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of cocaine addiction and the dangers posed by those who seek to profit from it. The Grimy Times will continue to shine a light on the ongoing battle against narcotics trafficking in our region.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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