Justice Unveiled: Bristol Man Faces Six Years in Federal Prison for Double Whammy of Drug Trafficking and COVID Relief Deception

A Bristol man’s audacious scheme to profit from both illicit drug distribution and a national crisis has concluded with a stern federal sentence. Jonathan Rivera, 34, will spend the next six years behind bars, a direct consequence of his dual criminal enterprises involving drug trafficking and the fraudulent acquisition of vital COVID-19 relief funds.

Rivera’s sentencing, handed down by U.S.

District Judge Sarah A.L. Merriam in Hartford, caps a period of criminal activity that saw him deeply entrenched in the distribution of dangerous narcotics across central Connecticut. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, crack cocaine, and cocaine, acknowledging his role in a drug network operating from approximately March 2020 to January 2021.

But Rivera’s illicit ventures didn’t stop at drug dealing.

During a time when businesses and individuals desperately needed support due to the pandemic, Rivera shamelessly exploited federal aid programs. Between April 2020 and March 2021, he orchestrated a sophisticated wire fraud scheme, submitting fraudulent applications for more than $130,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) initiatives.

These programs were designed to offer lifelines to struggling businesses, not to fund criminal enterprises.

Investigators revealed that Rivera falsified critical information about his non-existent business, fabricating employee numbers and payroll expenses to qualify for the substantial loans.

Rather than using the funds for legitimate purposes, he diverted them for personal enrichment and, disturbingly, to further facilitate his drug trafficking operations. This egregious misuse of emergency funds, intended to keep the economy afloat, underscored a profound disregard for societal well-being.

Beyond his six-year incarceration, Rivera's sentence includes four years of supervised release, during which his activities will be closely monitored.

In a move to reclaim the ill-gotten gains, Judge Merriam also ordered Rivera to forfeit $130,551.49, representing the total amount defrauded from the relief programs, along with a 2018 BMW 750i, which was likely purchased or maintained with illicit proceeds.

The successful prosecution of Rivera is the result of a collaborative and diligent investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad led the charge, with significant assistance from the Bristol Police Department and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. Their combined efforts highlight a commitment to dismantling criminal networks that endanger communities and exploit public resources.

This case serves as a stark reminder that those who seek to profit from the suffering of others, whether through the illicit drug trade or by pilfering emergency aid, will be met with the full force of federal law.

The sentence handed down to Jonathan Rivera sends a clear message: justice will prevail, and accountability will be exacted.