Massachusetts Gunman Sentenced to 10 Years in 2024 Saco Drive-By Shooting

The District Court in Portland sentenced a Massachusetts man to ten years in prison on May 28 for a drive-by shooting incident in Saco back in 2024. The suspect stood accused of discharging a firearm during a dispute related to a drug cartel and territory. The man, however, wasn't alone and was joined by two accomplices, who will be sentenced at a later date.

The incident, which was targeted to harm another drug rival group, ended up causing a car crash with another passenger vehicle. A school bus was also harmed during the exchange of gunfire. While the suspects had fled the scene almost immediately, the authorities had not reported any injuries to the victims whatsoever.

On February 9, 2024, the prime accused, Jason Johnson-Rivera, along with his accomplices Joshua Estrada and Yancarlos Abrante, fired five rounds from a 9mm handgun they possessed. These bullets were aimed at another vehicle, and the resulting gunfire was over a dispute between drug cartels.

After Rivera, Estrada, and Abrante fired at their rival gang, they fled the scene and drove their vehicle in the middle of a traffic stop. They ended up skipping a red light and then crashing their car into another passenger car and a school bus. The trio left their crashed vehicle on the spot and fled the scene on foot to avoid prosecution.

When authorities reached the crime scene, they reported no injuries. However, the investigation that followed to nab the suspects required creating a shelter-in-place to be drafted promptly. A nearby school was also forced to lock down by the authorities, citing the dangerous intentions of the fleeing suspects.

Court documents have revealed that Rivera and his accomplices had been notorious drug traffickers. They had been smuggling cocaine across Saco and Biddeford since January 2024. Following a giant investigation launched by the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force, U.S. Border Patrol, and other authoritative departments, the suspects were nabbed subsequently.

They were later charged with allegedly conspiring to distribute, possess and intent to distribute cocaine. On May 17, 2024, FBI Boston had shared pictures of the three culprits on their social media handle. They confirmed their arrests and charges.

While Rivera was first to plead guilty to his charges, his accomplices Estrada and Abrante shortly followed suit. The two, who were 20 and 22 years old respectively at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty by September 2025.

Their sentencing, which is scheduled to take place later in 2026, is expected to be a mandatory prison sentence of 20 years or life. They can also be ordered to pay up to a fine of up to $10 million and will be facing no less than five years of supervised release.

FBI’s Special Agent for the Boston division commented on the reckless actions of the three accused drug cartel members. Ted E. Docks highlighted that the incident had put several innocent lives at risk. It also put to the test the non-tolerance of drug trafficking in the country.

In his words, “These two violent, dangerous men committed a brazen, drive-by shooting in Saco in broad daylight following a dispute over the cocaine they were trafficking. Their unabashed criminal behavior put innocent lives at risk, all so they could maintain their hold on their drug territory and keep the cash rolling in. This case underscores how the FBI’s Southern Maine Gang Task Force and our law enforcement partners are working together to target and dismantle the violent drug gangs wreaking so much havoc in our communities, just to make money and a name for themselves on the street.”