Judge sentences former BPD officer who made false statements about drug sale

February 2, 2021

BALTIMORE —

A former Baltimore police officer charged in connection with the Gun Trace Task Force scandal was sentenced Tuesday to more than a year in federal prison.

A federal judge sentenced Victor Rivera, 48, of Nottingham, to 14 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer in connection with a scheme to sell 3 kg of cocaine seized during a Baltimore police investigation in 2009.

Prosecutors said the cocaine had come from a drug seizure and it had not been turned in to the BPD. Rather than turn the cocaine in to BPD, Rivera and other officers agreed to sell the cocaine and split the proceeds from its sale, prosecutors said.

According to prosecutors, Rivera sold the cocaine to a confidential informant of his, who trafficked in cocaine. The source sold the cocaine in Baltimore City.

Prosecutors said Rivera received the proceeds of the sale from his source and then shared them with the other officers.

Prosecutors said Rivera volunteered to be interviewed by the FBI and he made a number of false statements and material omissions.