A Columbia man has been charged with numerous felonies after the Lancaster County Drug Task Force found him in possession of 280 grams of cocaine, three handguns, a bullet-proof vest, bulk currency, and drug packaging materials at his residence.

Antonio Rivera, 41, of the 100 block of Stone House Lane in Columbia, is charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Possession of an Instrument of Crime (body armor), three counts of Persons Not to Possess Firearms, and one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

The Lancaster County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at Rivera’s residence on July 31, 2026, and located the drugs, firearms, and bullet-proof vest.  Detectives also located multiple boxes of sandwich bags, a functional digital gram scale, and over $45,000 in U.S. currency.  During a subsequent interview, Rivera admitted that the drugs found inside the residence belonged to him and that he intended to sell them.  Rivera is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior criminal convictions.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2026, in front of Magisterial District Judge Miles Bixler.  Rivera was released from Lancaster County Prison after posting $150,000 cash bail.

Detective Ryan Kelly filed the charges with approval from Assistant District Attorney Sarah Hansen.  The Drug Task Force was aided in the investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency; the Bureau of Narcotic Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the West Hempfield Police Department; and the Manor Township Police Department.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.