The owner of the Newburgh boxing club, a club aimed to keep young adults off the streets, admitted to conspiring to sell heroin.

Monday in Orange County Court, 49-year-old Raymond Rivera, of Newburgh plead guilty to conspiracy. It was alleged that Rivera was one of the main suppliers of heroin to a drug trafficking organization from the City of Newburgh.

Rivera admitted in court that he conspired to engage in the sale of more than a half-ounce of heroin, which he knew was going to be sold on the streets of the City of Newburgh.

Rivera was arrested in June following a ten-month-long narcotics investigation. “Operation Punch-Out”, which included the use of wiretaps, led to multiple search warrants, and over twenty arrests. Law enforcement officials recovered more than 56 grams of unpackaged heroin, over 1,000 individual packages of heroin, 28 grams of cocaine, over $8,000 in U.S. currency, scales, packaging material, cutting agents, and a loaded .pistol.

“It is particularly disappointing when it is discovered that respected community figures, who could have served as role models, succumb to the allure of quick narcotics profits,” stated District Attorney David Hoovler.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Rivera will receive a sentence of five to fifteen years in state prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 27.

More From WRRV-WRRB