Alleged Heroin Dealer Faces Up to 34 Years in Jail

A man who allegedly attempted to sell heroin at the Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem has been indicted on five counts by a Rockingham Superior Court grand jury.

Neftali Rivera, 33, who also goes by the aliases Luis Moran and Jose Pagan, faces up to 34 years in jail and various fines for one felony count of possession of a controlled drug with intent to sell, a felony count of conspiracy to sell a controlled drug, two Class B felony counts of possession of a controlled drug, and a Class A misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled drug.

Rivera is currently incarcerated at the Rockingham County House of Corrections.

Rivera allegedly arrived at the mall on May 20 to sell heroin, according to the indictments. Police took Rivera into custody after also finding the man in possession of various quantities of heroin, cocaine and marijuana.

The intent to sell charge, which the indictment states is related to the fact that Rivera had more than a gram of heroin on him at the time of his arrest, carries a possible sentence of between 10 and 20 years in jail and up to a $300,000 fine.

The conspiracy and possession of heroin charges each carry a possible sentence of between 3 1/2 and 7 years, in addition to fines. The cocaine and marijuana possession charges carry various fines, but not jail time, according to the indictments.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt or conviction; rather, it means a grand jury believed there was sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.