Florida – A South Florida federal judge has sentenced an MS-13 gang member to more than 17 years in prison for running a huge fentanyl trafficking operation—partly while detained, in what appears to be a clear proof that prison walls are not always sufficient to stop criminal operations.
From a district judge in Fort Lauderdale, Mario Clifford Rivera, also known by his nickname “Chuky,” was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison. A verified MS-13 member at 32 years old, Rivera oversaw a complex plot spreading fentanyl throughout several states. His business had far-reaching consequences from Mexico through California and finally to Florida, underlining the broad range of his illicit activities.
The scheme dates back to at least 2022 when Rivera began coordinating the smuggling of fentanyl across the U.S.-Mexico border. Once over the wall, the drugs were sent from California to Florida using the U.S. Postal Service; Rivera managed their distribution there via a network of dealers. His power inside MS-13 was so strong that even state prison sentence could not halt his criminal oversight…