DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Massachusetts

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Andrew E. Lelling
, United States Attorney
Contact: Christina DiIorio-Sterling

Worcester Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Fentanyl, Cocaine and Firearm Offenses

BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for drug and firearm offenses.

 

Cleon Riley, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In November 2018, Riley pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, one count of distributing cocaine, and one count of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. Riley has been detained since his arrest in May 2018.

 

On multiple occasions in 2018, Riley sold cocaine to a confidential source in Worcester. On one occasion in February 2018, Riley sold powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and a .9mm Beretta handgun, which had previously been reported as stolen, to the same source.

 

Riley was arrested by local police in May 2018. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of seven bags of fentanyl and 20 bags of cocaine. Law enforcement also located additional quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in a car used by Riley, as well as a large quantity of fentanyl, digital scales, cutting agents, and packaging materials in an apartment that Riley used.

 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and the Worcester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

 

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Boston Field Division