BOSTON – A Puerto Rican man pleaded guilty today to his role in a cocaine conspiracy.
William Torres, a/k/a Poro, 34, of Tao Baja, P.R., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Hillman, who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 19, 2020. In April 2019, Torres was charged and arrested in San Juan, P.R.
A federal investigation revealed that, around October 2018, Torres made arrangements for his associate, Melvin Burgos, to obtain a kilogram of cocaine from Julio Rivera. Torres provided Burgos with Rivera’s number, and on Nov. 1, 2018, Burgos and Rivera met at a storage facility in Worcester. Police subsequently stopped the men and inside the vehicle driven by Burgos they found approximately 900 grams of cocaine. Inside Rivera’s vehicle, law enforcement found a phone that had been used to contact Torres.
Burgos and Rivera were arrested on state charges that day and have since been charged in federal court in Worcester. Burgos pleaded guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 8, 2021. Rivera has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
Torres faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill Abely and John Mulcahy of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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