Michael “Bute” Rivera, 31, of Camden, was sentenced to 16 years in state prison – of which he must serve 13 years and seven months without possibility of parole – by Superior Court Judge John T. Kelley in Camden County. Rivera pleaded guilty to first-degree racketeering on Jan. 9. Deputy Attorney General Andrew B. Johns, the lead prosecutor for Operation Billboard, took the guilty plea and handled today’s sentencing. DAG Johns has been assisted by all of the members of the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau.

In pleading guilty, Rivera admitted that he was partners with the senior leader, Noel Gonzalez, in running the heroin ring. Gonzalez, 44, died of natural causes in June 2013 with charges pending against him. Thirty-six members of the ring, including Rivera and Gonzalez, were indicted on Jan. 9, 2013, as a result of Operation Billboard, which was led by the Division of Criminal Justice, with assistance from the Camden Police Department, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey State Police and federal agents from ICE Homeland Security Investigations. More than 30 defendants have entered guilty pleas to charges of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute narcotics, or narcotics distribution, all of which resulted in state prison sentences ranging from five to 10 years.

“Rivera and his ring of heroin dealers ruled their turf with violence and fear, peddling their poison in open-air drug markets near Camden’s Central Waterfront,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. “We broke their stranglehold on this neighborhood and cut off a major source of the heroin that is destroying so many young lives across New Jersey. In addition to enhancing our drug prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, we’ll continue to bust major narcotics rings such as this one.”

“In the past five years, we’ve partnered with law enforcement across the state to dismantle major heroin and prescription pill rings, including three violent heroin networks in Camden,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “The lengthy prison sentences imposed on Rivera and over 30 of his co-defendants demonstrate our resolve to bring the full force of the law to bear on criminals who fuel and exploit the opiate addiction problem in New Jersey.”

The investigation revealed that Gonzalez and Rivera ran a large-scale drug distribution network that was dealing up to tens of thousands of dollars in heroin per week. In addition to Gonzalez, who was a reputed member of the Ñetas, the leadership of the ring included other members of the Ñetas and Latin Kings street gangs. The ring had a well-defined hierarchy and used guns and violence to protect its turf.

At the time of the initial arrests, investigators executed search warrants at Gonzalez’s residence and four other residences. During the arrests and searches, authorities seized approximately three-quarters of a kilo of heroin; approximately $52,000 in cash; about $20,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency, and a .40-caliber handgun. Eight vehicles also were seized.

Operation Billboard was conducted by the Division of Criminal Justice, the Camden Police Department, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, and ICE Homeland Security Investigations. Assistance was provided by the Audubon Police Department and the Haddon Township Police Department. Acting Attorney General Hoffman credited Detective Peppi Pichette, Detective Brian Woolston, Detective James Blong III, Detective Jeffrey Lorman, Detective Richard Dasilva Jr., Detective Naike Kudlik, Sgt. Andrea Salvatini, and Lt. Richard Carlin of the Division of Criminal Justice, under the supervision of former Deputy Chief of Detectives Chuck Foley. He also credited Deputy Attorney General Johns and Deputy Attorney General Jill Mayer, under the direction of Assistant Attorney General Christopher Romanyshyn.

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