A Lebanon County man has been charged in connection with a fatal drug overdose that occurred in Robesonia last year, according to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.
Rafael Angel Rivera-Ortiz, 40, of South 10th Street in Lebanon, faces multiple charges, including drug delivery resulting in death, following an investigation into the March 29, 2024, overdose of a 32-year-old man in the 100 block of West Penn Avenue.
South Heidelberg Township Police were called to the residence, where they discovered the victim deceased and evidence of illegal drug use, including fentanyl and related paraphernalia. The Berks County Coroner’s Office pronounced the man dead at the scene.
An autopsy conducted by Pathologist Supriya Kuruvilla determined the cause of death to be acute fentanyl toxicity.
Following the incident, South Heidelberg Police partnered with detectives from the Berks County District Attorney’s Office to investigate. Authorities say their investigation identified Rivera-Ortiz as the individual who supplied the fentanyl that led to the victim’s death.
Charges against Rivera-Ortiz were filed on June 6, 2025. He is currently incarcerated in Lebanon County Prison on unrelated drug charges. A preliminary arraignment on the Berks County charges is pending.
In addition to drug delivery resulting in death, Rivera-Ortiz is charged with criminal use of a communication facility, delivery and possession with intent to deliver fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of controlled substances.
Officials noted that all charges are accusations, and Rivera-Ortiz is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Berks County Detectives at 610-478-7171 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Alert Berks County by calling 877-373-9913, using the ALERTBERKS mobile app, or texting ALERTBERKS and their tip to 847411.
