According to the Berks County District Attorney's Office, in early 2019, detectives from the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office identified Noel Rivera as a significant source of supply of illegal drugs entering their community.
Detectives determined that Noel Rivera’s base of operations was in Berks County and further learned that Rivera also had ties with illegal drug trafficking into Lancaster County.
Based on the knowledge that Rivera was operating in three known Counties; detectives from Schuylkill County teamed up with the Berks County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania State Police and the Reading Police Department to further investigate the scope of the illegal drug trade.
During the investigation, detectives determined that Rivera dealt bulk amounts of various types of illegal drugs including heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids (“K2)” not only into Schuylkill County but also in Berks and Lancaster Counties.
Subsequently, on June 23, 2020, Berks County District Attorney John Adams made an application for electronic surveillance on the subject of this investigation, Noel Rivera. This application was authorized by a Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge.
The investigation revealed that Noel Rivera was associated with numerous individuals who either were being supplied by Rivera or assisted Rivera with acquiring bulk quantities of illegal drugs. One of those individuals was identified as Devon Given from Lancaster, PA. Given supplied bulk quantities of synthetic cannabinoids (“K2)” for Rivera and others.
Detectives were able to identify a residence at 305 Locust Street, Reading and a storage facility in Fleetwood as locations where synthetic cannabinoids (“K2)” were processed and stored. On July 15, 2020, detectives obtained a search warrant for those locations and seized the following:
· Approximately fifty-three (53) pounds of suspected synthetic cannabinoids “K2”
· Bulk quantity of suspected concentrated powder to produce synthetic cannabinoids
· Various “K2” manufacturing materials and equipment such as acetone and garden sprayers
· Loaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun
· $15,200.00 in cash
On July 20,2020, Noel Rivera was stopped by Pennsylvania State Police while driving a vehicle on Route 222 in Berks County. Rivera was placed into custody for outstanding felony drug charges and a search warrant was obtained for his vehicle.
A search of the vehicle revealed a mechanical “trap” (secret compartment) hidden within the dash of the vehicle. Officers bypassed the sequence to open the “trap” and discovered a plastic bag containing approximately $14,750.00 in cash and a fully loaded Ruger 9mm handgun with laser sights which was reported stolen to Coal Township Police Department.
On July 21, 2020, law enforcement obtained search warrants for the following locations, which were utilized by members from this drug organization to facilitate their illegal activities within Berks County and Lancaster County:
· 1041 Fern Avenue, Reading PA
· 618 Third Street, Lancaster, PA
· 400 Franklin Street, Apt. 309, West Reading, PA
· 41 South 6th Street, Columbia, PA
On July 21, 2020, law enforcement obtained search warrants for the following locations, which were utilized by members from this drug organization to facilitate their illegal activities within Berks County and Lancaster County:
· 1041 Fern Avenue, Reading PA
· 618 Third Street, Lancaster, PA
· 400 Franklin Street, Apt. 309, West Reading, PA
· 41 South 6th Street, Columbia, PA
In the early morning hours of July 22, 2020, a team of law enforcement officers from the Pennsylvania State Police, the Berks County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, the Reading Police Department and Schuylkill County Detectives served the aforementioned arrest warrants and search warrants.
The following items were seized:
· Loaded AR15 Bushmaster .223 rifle
· Loaded Ruger .380 pistol
· Browning .380 semi-automatic pistol
· Numerous magazines fully load with .223 ammunition
· 9mm drum magazine
· Eight pounds suspected synthetic cannabinoids “K2”
· One pound of marijuana
· Over one ounce cocaine
· Several containers of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)
· $2,000.00 in cash
As a result of the aforementioned investigation, the individuals listed were arrested and taken in custody.
1. Noel D. Rivera aka Blue, 28, West Reading, PA - Possession of a Controlled Substance, Delivery of a Controlled Substance, PWI of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Conspiracy to Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Corrupt Organization, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility, Person Not to Possess a Firearm, Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities
· Loaded AR15 Bushmaster .223 rifle
· Loaded Ruger .380 pistol
· Browning .380 semi-automatic pistol
· Numerous magazines fully load with .223 ammunition
· 9mm drum magazine
· Eight pounds suspected synthetic cannabinoids “K2”
· One pound of marijuana
· Over one ounce cocaine
· Several containers of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)
· $2,000.00 in cash
As a result of the aforementioned investigation, the individuals listed were arrested and taken in custody.
1. Noel D. Rivera aka Blue, 28, West Reading, PA - Possession of a Controlled Substance, Delivery of a Controlled Substance, PWI of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Conspiracy to Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Corrupt Organization, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility, Person Not to Possess a Firearm, Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities
 |
| Rivera |
2. Arius Cooper, 29, Reading, PA - Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWI of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Conspiracy to Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Corrupt Organization, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility
 |
| Cooper |
3. Lynchel Cooper, 24, Reading, PA - Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWI of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Conspiracy to Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility
 |
| Cooper |
4. Devon Given, 31, Lancaster, PA - Possession of a Controlled Substance, Delivery of a Controlled Substance, PWI of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Conspiracy to Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Corrupt Organization, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility
 |
| Given |
5. John Reppert, 29, Reading, PA - Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWI of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Conspiracy to Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Corrupt Organization, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility
 |
| Reppert |
The following individuals remain at large.
6. Luis Sanabria aka Streetz, 28, 811 North 5th Street, Reading, PA - Possession of a Controlled Substance, Delivery of a Controlled Substance, PWI of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Conspiracy to Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Corrupt Organization, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility
 |
| Sanabria |
7. Charles Matthew aka Black, 39, 244 S. Ann Street and 390 Downer Drive. Lancaster, PA - Possession of a Controlled Substance, PWI of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility
 |
| Matthew |
The arrested individuals were transported to the Sheriff’s Central Processing Unit.
If you have any information regarding any of the individuals who remain at large, please contact Crime Alert Berks County at 1-877-373-9913 or Berks County District Attorney’s at 610-478-7171.