PHILADELPHIA, PA — Gabriel Rivera-Otero and Angel Reyes-Valdez have been sentenced to substantial prison terms for their involvement in a large-scale fentanyl distribution network in Philadelphia. United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced Monday that Rivera-Otero, also known as “Carlos Vasquez,” and Reyes-Valdez, known as “Abel Anton Alberto Nunez,” were handed sentences of 293 months and 300 months, respectively. Both sentences include extended terms of supervised release following their prison terms.
The convictions followed a four-day jury trial in July, where both individuals were found guilty of possessing with intent to distribute significant quantities of fentanyl, as well as maintaining drug-involved premises. Reyes-Valdez was additionally convicted of illegal reentry after deportation, which mandates his deportation following the completion of his sentence.
The case traces back to an operation on October 28, 2020, when DEA agents interrupted a narcotics transaction between Rivera-Otero and Reyes-Valdez in a Philadelphia parking lot. The agents seized six kilograms of fentanyl concealed in a diaper box within Rivera-Otero’s vehicle. This arrest led to further searches of two residences linked to the men, revealing a cache of illegal substances and paraphernalia. Rivera-Otero’s location housed 700 grams of fentanyl, while Reyes-Valdez’s residence contained an alarming 30 kilograms of fentanyl, over 110,000 fentanyl pills, a loaded firearm, and more than $90,000 in cash.
Both defendants have a history of felony drug convictions. Reyes-Valdez, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, had been deported from the United States three times between 2007 and 2014, further complicating his legal status.
Reflecting on the case, U.S. Attorney Romero stated, “Four years ago… in a Philly parking lot, Rivera-Otero and Reyes-Valdez met to exchange multiple kilos of fentanyl and wound up in handcuffs instead. In all that day, the DEA seized 36 kilos of fentanyl from the defendants, which otherwise would have ended up on the street, with potentially deadly consequences.”
DEA Special Agent Thomas Hodnett emphasized the impact of the operation, noting, “Together Rivera-Otero and Reyes-Valdez possessed over 36 kilograms of fentanyl, which is a staggering amount of a potentially lethal drug that has had catastrophic effects on our region and across the nation at large.”
This case highlights the collaborative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Philadelphia Police Department, and Department of Homeland Security in combatting drug trafficking. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Ashenfelter and Timothy Lanni.
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