Jay Man Sentenced In Santa Rosa’s Biggest Crystal Meth Bust

August 23, 2017

A Jay man has been sentenced in Santa Rosa County’s largest ever crystal methamphetamine bust last summer.

Edgardo Xavier Rivera was sentenced to 25 years in state prison after entering a plea to trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, five counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of prescription drugs without a prescription.

On July 8, 2016, the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office Narcotic’s Unit, Santa Rosa SWAT team and the DEA executed a search warrant at Rivera’s rental home at 3501 Highway 4 in Jay. During the search, detectives located approximately 385 grams of crystal  methamphetamine, cocaine, various prescription pills, 15 firearms, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia.

Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office Narcotics investigators obtained the search warrant after conducting an undercover purchase of methamphetamine from Rivera.

For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.

Rivera  was taken into custody in the parking lot of a business on North Century Boulevard in Century as he arrived to pay his rent shortly after the raid.

A neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of  retribution, said she and other neighbors were concerned about activity at the home.

“There are always people coming and going from the house at all times of the day and night,” she said on the day of the drug raid. “And we all felt like something was up by the way they kept the windows and carport blacked out all the time. It just seemed like they really had something to hide.”

The 34-year old Rivera must serve 15 years of his 25 year sentence as a minimum  mandatory. He was also assessed a $250,000 fine.

Rivera’s wife, Mariano Solano, was also arrested and is scheduled to appear in court on August 31.

Pictured top and bottom: Deputies collect evidence under the carport of a Jay home in July 2016. Faces of undercover deputies have been obscured for their safety. Pictured below: Weapons and over a record amount of crystal methamphetamine were seized during the operation. Pictured second from bottom: Rivera was arrested here after he got our of his truck in the parking lot of this North Century Boulevard business. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Jay Man Sentenced In Santa Rosa’s Biggest Crystal Meth Bust”

  1. Lessthanapound on August 24th, 2017 10:22 pm

    When you think of it in terms of grams, oz, etc…it is a big bust… doesn’t take much meth to get you high

  2. Someguy on August 23rd, 2017 1:43 pm

    Wait so a less under 1lb of Meth is a Big Bust? Granted yes it’s poison off the streets and potentially saved lives but come on this isn’t a BIG Bust, lets be real. Well Kudos.

  3. mick on August 23rd, 2017 5:21 am

    Poison peddler – 25 years is not enough

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News