Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a four-count indictment charging DERRICK RIVERA, 19, of Bridgeport, with offenses released to two armed robberies of Bridgeport businesses.
As alleged in the indictment, on November 11, 2022, Rivera committed a gunpoint robbery of a barbershop located on Wood Avenue in Bridgeport, and, on November 25, 2022, Rivera robbed a restaurant located on Wade Street in Bridgeport. During the second robbery, Rivera discharged a firearm, injuring the owner of the restaurant.
The indictment charges Rivera with two counts of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least seven years; and one count of discharging a firearm during a robbery, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least 10 years.
The indictment was returned on November 28, 2023. Rivera appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.
Rivera has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on November 25, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Bridgeport Police Department, with the assistance of the Stratford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.