Robert Pizarro And Juan Rivera Convicted Of Kidnapping And Murdering Federal Cooperating Witness
Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera were convicted of kidnapping and murdering federal cooperating witness Robert Bishun in 2016 to prevent his cooperation with law enforcement, after previously robbing him in 2015, and now face mandatory life sentences plus 32 and 7 years respectively.
Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera were convicted of murdering federal cooperating witness Robert Bishun on September 20, 2016, after learning he was assisting law enforcement; they kidnapped him from his Bronx auto body shop and strangled him with a zip tie, abandoning his body in his own vehicle. The pair had previously robbed Bishun at gunpoint in January 2015, stealing $10,000 and binding two customers with zip ties during both incidents. They were also convicted of related charges including kidnapping conspiracy, robbery conspiracy, and firearms offenses, with Pizarro facing a mandatory minimum of life plus 32 years and Rivera facing life plus 7 years.
On September 20, 2016, Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera attempted to rob federal cooperating witness Robert Bishun at gunpoint inside his Bronx auto body shop, binding two customers with zip ties and locking them in vehicle trunks. Upon discovering Bishun was assisting law enforcement, they kidnapped him, strangled him to death with a plastic zip tie, and left his body in the back of his own vehicle on the side of the road. This murder followed a prior armed robbery of Bishun in January 2015, during which the same two defendants stole approximately $10,000 and similarly bound customers with zip ties. Both men were convicted on multiple charges including murder, kidnapping resulting in death, robbery conspiracy, and firearms offenses. Pizarro, 38, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison plus 32 years, while Rivera, 41, faces life plus 7 years. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit, with investigative support from the DEA and NYPD. The conviction was hailed as accountability for a heinous crime targeting a federal witness, bringing some measure of justice to Bishun’s family.
Extracted insights
- $10K $10,000 $10K–$100K
- person federal cooperating witness
- person Geoffrey S. Berman
- person juan rivera
- person robert bishun
- person robert pizarro
- agency u.s. attorney's office, southern district of new york
- Robert Pizarro convicted of kidnapping and murdering federal cooperating witness
- Juan Rivera convicted of kidnapping and murdering federal cooperating witness
- Robert Pizarro convicted of murdering witness to prevent reporting to law enforcement
- Juan Rivera convicted of murdering witness to prevent reporting to law enforcement
- Robert Pizarro convicted of kidnapping conspiracy, robbery conspiracy, firearms offenses
- Juan Rivera convicted of kidnapping conspiracy, robbery conspiracy, firearms offenses
- Robert Pizarro kidnapped and strangled Robert Bishun
- Juan Rivera kidnapped and strangled Robert Bishun
- Robert Pizarro attempted to rob Robert Bishun at gunpoint on September 20, 2016
- Juan Rivera attempted to rob Robert Bishun at gunpoint on September 20, 2016
- Robert Pizarro robbed Robert Bishun of approximately $10,000 in January 2015
- Robert Bishun was federal cooperating witness
- Robert Pizarro faces mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison plus 32 years
- Juan Rivera faces mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison plus 7 years
- Geoffrey S. Berman announced conviction of Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera on September 26, 2018
- U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York prosecuted Robert Pizarro and Juan Rivera
Press Release Robert Pizarro And Juan Rivera Convicted Of Kidnapping And Murdering Federal Cooperating Witness Wednesday, September 26, 2018 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 earlier today, ROBERT PIZARRO and JUAN RIVERA were convicted of murdering a witness to prevent reporting to law enforcement, kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping resulting in death, robbery conspiracy, robbery, and firearms offenses, arising out of the murder of federal cooperating witness Robert Bishun on September 20, 2016. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Just over two years ago, Robert Bishun was violently kidnapped and brutally murdered by the defendants because he was a federal cooperating witness. Today, the jury in this case returned a unanimous verdict holding the defendants accountable for their heinous crimes. We hope that today’s result brings some small measure of peace to Robert Bishun’s family.” According to the proof 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 the attempted robbery, two customers were bound with zip ties and locked in the trunks of separate vehicles inside the shop. Upon learning 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. * * * PIZARRO, 38, of the Bronx, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison plus 32 years. RIVERA, 41, also of the Bronx, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison plus 7 years. Mr. Berman praised the investigative efforts of the DEA and the NYPD, 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 September 26, 2018 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 18-326
Press Release Robert Pizarro And Juan Rivera Convicted Of Kidnapping And Murdering Federal Cooperating Witness Wednesday, September 26, 2018 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 earlier today, ROBERT PIZARRO and JUAN RIVERA were convicted of murdering a witness to prevent reporting to law enforcement, kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping resulting in death, robbery conspiracy, robbery, and firearms offenses, arising out of the murder of federal cooperating witness Robert Bishun on September 20, 2016. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Just over two years ago, Robert Bishun was violently kidnapped and brutally murdered by the defendants because he was a federal cooperating witness. Today, the jury in this case returned a unanimous verdict holding the defendants accountable for their heinous crimes. We hope that today’s result brings some small measure of peace to Robert Bishun’s family.” According to the proof 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 the attempted robbery, two customers were bound with zip ties and locked in the trunks of separate vehicles inside the shop. Upon learning 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. * * * PIZARRO, 38, of the Bronx, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison plus 32 years. RIVERA, 41, also of the Bronx, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison plus 7 years. Mr. Berman praised the investigative efforts of the DEA and the NYPD, 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 September 26, 2018 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 18-326