A judge in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, has sentenced Mario Clifford Rivera, known by the alias “Chuky,” to 17 years in federal prison for overseeing a fentanyl distribution network, partly while incarcerated. Rivera, 32, is affiliated with the MS-13 gang, a designated foreign terrorist organization. Since at least 2022, he utilized the U.S. Postal Service to distribute fentanyl trafficked from Mexico into the United States, continuing the operation even from behind bars.
Rivera's involvement became apparent in early 2023 while he was briefly out on bail awaiting a three-year state prison sentence for various crimes, including possession of a firearm by a felon and aggravated assault. During that period, he arranged the sale of two kilograms of fentanyl in Florida, completing part of the deal. In prison, he managed his drug trafficking operations using both prison and unauthorized phones.
In total, Rivera was responsible for distributing over three kilograms of fentanyl, and his federal sentence will commence after he concludes his state sentence. He pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges.
U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida stated, “Rivera’s 17-year federal prison sentence should serve as a warning to MS-13 and other terrorist gangs who seek to flood our communities with deadly poisons like fentanyl: Whether you operate on the streets or behind prison walls, we will identify your leaders and members, dismantle your networks, and hold you accountable using the full force of American law.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rinku Tribuiani, with investigations led by several agencies, including the FBI Miami, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division, DEA Miami Field Division, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Division, and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Brett Skiles, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Miami, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in investigating these networks. Steven L. Hodges of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service echoed the sentiment, underscoring their commitment to safeguarding the postal system from drug traffickers. DEA Miami's Deanne L. Reuter and HSI Miami's Jose Figueroa highlighted the ongoing dedication of law enforcement agencies to combat gang and drug-related threats.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative focusing on illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). It also falls under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which targets major criminal organizations in a coordinated effort. More details about the OCDETF Program are available on the Department of Justice's website.
Case documents and updates are accessible on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida's website and the District Court for the Southern District of Florida's online platforms.