Robert Pizarro And Juan Rivera Sentenced To Life In Prison For The Kidnapping And Murder Of A Federal Cooperating Witness
Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera were sentenced to life in prison plus additional years for kidnapping and murdering federal cooperating witness Robert Bishun in 2016 after discovering his cooperation during an armed robbery, following a prior 2015 robbery of the same victim in which $10,000 was stolen.
Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera were convicted by a jury after a twelve-day trial for the September 20, 2016 kidnapping and murder of federal cooperating witness Robert Bishun, whom they strangled with a zip tie after learning he was assisting law enforcement during an attempted robbery at his Bronx auto body shop. They also committed an earlier armed robbery of Bishun in January 2015, stealing approximately $10,000 and binding two customers with zip ties. Pizarro received a sentence of life plus 14 years, including for the 2015 robbery, while Rivera received life plus seven years; both were charged with attempted robbery, kidnapping, and murder in aid of racketeering.
On September 20, 2016, Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera attempted to rob federal cooperating witness Robert Bishun at his Bronx auto body shop, binding two customers with zip ties and locking them in vehicle trunks. Upon discovering Bishun was assisting federal authorities, they kidnapped him and strangled him to death with a plastic zip tie before abandoning his body in the back of his own vehicle on the roadside. This followed a prior armed robbery of Bishun in January 2015, during which Pizarro and an accomplice stole approximately $10,000 and similarly bound two customers with zip ties. Pizarro was held accountable for both incidents, while Rivera was convicted only for the 2016 murder and kidnapping. After a twelve-day trial before U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan, both were found guilty on charges including attempted robbery, kidnapping, and murder in aid of racketeering. Pizarro was sentenced to life in prison plus 14 years; Rivera received life plus seven years. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, supported by the DEA and NYPD, emphasized the brutality of targeting a cooperating witness and credited the investigative teams for securing justice.
Extracted insights
- $10K $10,000 $10K–$100K
- person Geoffrey S. Berman
- person juan rivera
- person robert pizarro
- Robert Pizarro sentenced to life in prison plus 14 years
- Juan Rivera sentenced to life in prison plus seven years
- Robert Pizarro convicted of attempted robbery, kidnapping, and murder of Robert Bishun
- Juan Rivera convicted of attempted robbery, kidnapping, and murder of Robert Bishun
- Robert Pizarro kidnapped and murdered Robert Bishun on September 20, 2016
- Juan Rivera kidnapped and murdered Robert Bishun on September 20, 2016
- Robert Pizarro attempted robbery of Robert Bishun in January 2015
- Robert Pizarro robbed approximately $10,000 in cash from Robert Bishun
- Geoffrey S. Berman announced sentencing of Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera on July 30, 2019
- U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan imposed sentence on Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera
Press Release Robert Pizarro And Juan Rivera Sentenced To Life In Prison For The Kidnapping And Murder Of A Federal Cooperating Witness Tuesday, July 30, 2019 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROBERT PIZARRO and JUAN RIVERA were sentenced today for the attempted robbery, kidnapping, and murder of federal cooperating witness Robert Bishun on September 20, 2016. PIZARRO was also sentenced for his role in an earlier 2015 robbery attempt. PIZARRO, 39, of the Bronx, received a sentence of life in prison plus 14 years. RIVERA, 42, also of the Bronx, was sentenced to life in prison plus seven years. PIZARRO and RIVERA were convicted by a jury following a twelve-day trial before U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan, who imposed today’s sentence. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As the evidence at trial established, the defendants viciously kidnapped and murdered Robert Bishun because he was a federal cooperating witness. While we cannot undo the terrible acts committed by these defendants, we firmly believe that today’s sentences further the cause of justice. We thank the DEA, NYPD, and the Special Agents of our Office for their extraordinary and tireless efforts in pursuit of justice.” According to the evidence introduced at trial: On September 20, 2016, PIZARRO and RIVERA attempted to rob Robert Bishun at gunpoint inside his auto body shop in the Bronx, during which two customers in his shop were bound with zip ties and locked in the trunks of separate vehicles inside the shop. Upon learning during the robbery that Bishun was a federal cooperating witness, PIZARRO and RIVERA kidnapped Bishun from his shop and strangled him to death with a plastic zip tie, before abandoning Bishun’s body in the back of his own vehicle on the side of the road. On a prior occasion, in January 2015, PIZARRO and another accomplice stormed into Bishun’s auto body shop and robbed Robert Bishun at gunpoint, taking approximately $10,000 in cash from Bishun. During the course of the robbery, two customers were bound with zip ties. * * * Mr. Berman praised the investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York City Police Department, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Swergold, Jessica Fender, Jared Lenow, and Margaret Graham are in charge of the prosecution. Updated July 30, 2019 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 19-241
Press Release Robert Pizarro And Juan Rivera Sentenced To Life In Prison For The Kidnapping And Murder Of A Federal Cooperating Witness Tuesday, July 30, 2019 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROBERT PIZARRO and JUAN RIVERA were sentenced today for the attempted robbery, kidnapping, and murder of federal cooperating witness Robert Bishun on September 20, 2016. PIZARRO was also sentenced for his role in an earlier 2015 robbery attempt. PIZARRO, 39, of the Bronx, received a sentence of life in prison plus 14 years. RIVERA, 42, also of the Bronx, was sentenced to life in prison plus seven years. PIZARRO and RIVERA were convicted by a jury following a twelve-day trial before U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan, who imposed today’s sentence. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As the evidence at trial established, the defendants viciously kidnapped and murdered Robert Bishun because he was a federal cooperating witness. While we cannot undo the terrible acts committed by these defendants, we firmly believe that today’s sentences further the cause of justice. We thank the DEA, NYPD, and the Special Agents of our Office for their extraordinary and tireless efforts in pursuit of justice.” According to the evidence introduced at trial: On September 20, 2016, PIZARRO and RIVERA attempted to rob Robert Bishun at gunpoint inside his auto body shop in the Bronx, during which two customers in his shop were bound with zip ties and locked in the trunks of separate vehicles inside the shop. Upon learning during the robbery that Bishun was a federal cooperating witness, PIZARRO and RIVERA kidnapped Bishun from his shop and strangled him to death with a plastic zip tie, before abandoning Bishun’s body in the back of his own vehicle on the side of the road. On a prior occasion, in January 2015, PIZARRO and another accomplice stormed into Bishun’s auto body shop and robbed Robert Bishun at gunpoint, taking approximately $10,000 in cash from Bishun. During the course of the robbery, two customers were bound with zip ties. * * * Mr. Berman praised the investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York City Police Department, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Swergold, Jessica Fender, Jared Lenow, and Margaret Graham are in charge of the prosecution. Updated July 30, 2019 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 19-241