Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Worcester Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Ammunition
BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for a federal firearms charge.
Steven Rivera, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In January 2018, Rivera pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Rivera was arrested on June 29, 2017, as part of a coordinated federal and state law enforcement operation that resulted in the arrests of nine individuals who have been charged with firearms-related offenses.
On Feb. 14, 2017, Rivera – who has multiple prior felony convictions, including drug-related offenses – sold two handguns and numerous rounds of ammunition to a cooperating source in Worcester. On Feb. 28, 2017, Rivera sold the cooperating source two more handguns (one of which was inoperable) and numerous rounds of ammunition.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
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