Daniel Lopez-Rivera, 40, of Buffalo, New York, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo on April 17. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Authorities say the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Lopez-Rivera due to suspected ongoing narcotics activity in Buffalo. On April 12, postal inspectors identified a suspicious Priority Mail parcel shipped from Puerto Rico to a Tonawanda Street residence associated with Lopez-Rivera. Investigators executed a search warrant on April 14 and found about seven pounds of suspected cocaine inside the package.
A controlled delivery of the parcel was carried out on April 16 at the same address. Afterward, investigators observed another individual handing Lopez-Rivera a grocery bag containing the parcel as he arrived at the location. He then returned to his Chadduck Avenue residence where he was taken into custody. A subsequent search of that residence led authorities to seize postage labels addressed to another location believed linked to his alleged drug trafficking activities.
Lopez-Rivera appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released under conditions pending further proceedings. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt I. Kass is prosecuting the case, which resulted from work by the Postal Inspection Service under Acting Inspector Jason Buckley and the Drug Enforcement Administration led by Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam.
The Justice Department employs more than 115,000 people across operations in the United States and over 50 countries according to its official website. The department serves as the main federal law enforcement agency according to its official website and focuses on upholding rule of law, national safety, and civil rights as detailed online. Merrick Garland has served as Attorney General since March 11, 2021 according to its official website, overseeing major prosecutions such as those related to the Oklahoma City bombing case as per Justice Department records.
Officials remind that “the fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”
