Raul Cotto-Rivera, Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Cocaine Hydrochloride, Pennsylvania 2024

HARRISBURG, PA – Raul Cotto-Rivera, 40, of York, Pennsylvania, is staring down a potential lifetime sentence after being convicted yesterday on a slew of drug trafficking charges following a three-day jury trial. The case, presided over by U.S. District Court Judge Yvette Kane, reveals a deep-rooted operation that continued even while Cotto-Rivera was supposedly under court supervision.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the jury found Cotto-Rivera guilty of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams and more of heroin and 500 grams and more of cocaine hydrochloride, along with three counts of distribution of heroin. The charges don’t stop there: possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine hydrochloride, distribution of marijuana, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, cocaine hydrochloride, and marijuana all landed on the conviction sheet. This wasn’t a small-time hustle; this was a serious player moving significant quantities.

The investigation dates back to September and October of 2015, with authorities conducting a series of controlled buys facilitated by Cotto-Rivera. In October 2015, a search of his home turned up a staggering $20,000 in cash, a detailed drug ledger, packaging materials, and distribution-level amounts of both cocaine and heroin. But Cotto-Rivera didn’t learn his lesson. While on release, he brazenly continued dealing, expanding his operation to include marijuana distribution from his store.

Law enforcement wasn’t finished. In February 2017, a second search warrant yielded even more evidence: distribution quantities of marijuana and cocaine, more drug packaging, and, adding insult to injury, a loaded stolen firearm. This wasn’t just about drugs; it was about escalating danger and a blatant disregard for the law. The FBI Safe Streets Task Force, alongside the York County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania State Police, and a host of other local agencies, built a rock-solid case.

The prosecution, handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Daryl F. Bloom and Carl Marchioli, presented enough evidence to convince a jury that Cotto-Rivera was a key cog in the heroin and cocaine trade in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. This case is a prime example of the “Project Safe Neighborhoods” initiative, a federal program aimed at bringing together law enforcement at all levels to combat violent crime. Attorney General Jeff Sessions made tackling rising violent crime a priority, and this conviction demonstrates that commitment.

Cotto-Rivera now faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, but the potential maximum is a staggering 160 years, plus supervised release and a hefty fine. While the statutory maximum is high, the actual sentence will be determined by Judge Kane after considering federal sentencing guidelines and a range of factors. This case is also part of the “Heroin Initiative,” a district-wide effort to dismantle heroin trafficking networks. The streets of York County are a little safer tonight, but the fight against the drug epidemic is far from over.

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