FRAMINGHAM — Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced that Wilber Soto Rivera, 39, of Clinton, was held without bail following a dangerousness hearing in Framingham District Court on charges related to drug trafficking operations allegedly run from a local auto body shop.
Rivera faces charges of trafficking in cocaine over 200 grams, trafficking in fentanyl over 36 grams, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, improper storage of a firearm and leaving ammunition unattended.
On March 31, Massachusetts State Police, with assistance from the MetroWest Drug Task Force, executed search warrants at an auto body shop in Framingham and a residence in Clinton.
Police seized approximately 2,355 grams of cocaine, 60 grams of crack cocaine, 85 grams of fentanyl, a mechanical press allegedly used for packaging fentanyl into “fingers,” a firearm and ammunition from the Framingham business.
Approximately 4,500 additional grams of powder substances were seized and are pending analysis.
Over $160,000 in cash was seized from Rivera’s alleged residence, along with two vehicles, including a McLaren MP412C luxury car that can retail for up to $230,000 new.
“In this case investigators seized, among other things, a large quantity of dangerous narcotics, a press for packaging, a substantial amount of cash, a gun and a luxury car,” said District Attorney Ryan.
“It is alleged that the defendant was using the shop as a cover for the drug business,” Ryan added.
The case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Framingham Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Massachusetts State Police detectives, and the MetroWest Drug Task Force, which includes officers from Framingham, Natick, Marlborough and Ashland Police departments.
