Fentanyl Distribution Ring Cracked in Hartford

A 26-year-old man, known to his associates as ‘Gitto,’ has admitted to peddling a deadly mix of fentanyl and crack cocaine in Hartford’s South End.

Jonathan Rivera, of Hartford, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid.

According to court documents, on December 5, 2018, Rivera sold 25 bags of the lethal mix to another individual in Hartford’s South End. Following his arrest, a search of his Fairfield Avenue residence revealed an astonishing 15,000 bags containing a similar mix of fentanyl and crack.

The case against Rivera was brought by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming will prosecute the case.

Rivera faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of 40 years. He was released on bond but has been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after the guilty plea.

Judge Janet C. Hall scheduled sentencing for October 16, 2019. The investigation into Rivera’s activities is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by the opioid epidemic gripping the nation.

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