Fort Lauderdale, FL – An MS-13 gang member and leader of a transnational drug trafficking organization has been sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for orchestrating a fentanyl distribution ring, even while incarcerated. Mario Clifford Rivera, also known as “Chuky,” 32, was found guilty of using the U.S. Postal Service to distribute fentanyl smuggled from Mexico into the United States.
Rivera’s operation involved transporting fentanyl from Mexico to California, then sending it by mail to Florida for distribution. While awaiting a state prison sentence for previous offenses, including firearm possession and aggravated assault, Rivera continued his illegal activities, offering to sell fentanyl to buyers in Florida.
Once in state prison, Rivera managed his drug trafficking operations from behind bars. Using prison phones and a contraband cell phone, he directed his associates on distribution methods and pricing, ensuring he received his share of the profits. His activities resulted in the distribution of over three kilograms of fentanyl.
Rivera pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and will serve his federal sentence after completing his state sentence. U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne emphasized that Rivera’s sentencing serves as a warning to MS-13 and other gangs that law enforcement will dismantle their networks and hold them accountable.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rinku Tribuiani and investigated by the FBI Miami, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division, DEA Miami Field Division, Homeland Security Investigations Miami Field Division, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. These agencies highlighted the importance of their partnership in shutting down drug trafficking networks and protecting communities.
The investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide effort to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels, and protect communities from violent crime. Additionally, it falls under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, which targets high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States.
