Attorney General James Announces Sentencings of Rensselaer County Tow Truck Operator and Used Car Dealer for Car Theft Scheme
www.Ag.ny.gov, Press Release, February 24, 2026
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the sentencings of John F. Rivers, 44, of East Greenbush and Robert A. Pitcher, 58, of Broadalbin for their roles in a car theft scheme in the Capital Region. Rivers and Pitcher were charged with over 30 felonies for stealing and selling vehicles towed from parking lots throughout the region. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and New York State Police (NYSP) revealed that Rivers used his towing company’s contracts with local businesses to steal vehicles, and then later illegally sold the vehicles he towed to scrap yards or used car dealers, including Pitcher. Rivers was sentenced today to two to six years in prison and Pitcher was sentenced to five years of probation on February 5.
“New Yorkers should be able to trust that when their car gets towed, they’ll be able to get it back quickly and easily,” said Attorney General James. “John Rivers turned his towing business into a criminal operation, stealing cars out of parking lots throughout the Capital Region and selling them to dealers like Robert Pitcher. This scheme left dozens of New Yorkers stranded without a car, and I thank our law enforcement partners for their work in this successful investigation.”
“This sentencing has brought to justice individuals who engaged in fraud and larceny, impacting car owners and scamming local businesses who had trust in them,” said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. “Car theft is no small matter, and we are here to address this problem head-on with the same seriousness and dedication as all crimes we investigate. Our coordination with Attorney General James is critical, and we will continue our partnership as we seek to intercept these acts and dismantle car theft schemes.”
The investigation revealed that from October 2022 through August 2024, Rivers used his position as a tow truck operator, with contracts with local businesses to repossess and tow cars left overnight in their parking lots, to steal the vehicles. Parking lots serviced and targeted by Rivers included a Walmart in Latham, a Hannaford in Albany, and a Home Depot in Rensselaer. Once the vehicles were stolen, Rivers would sell them to Pitcher, who would create fraudulent ownership documents in order to resell them. Rivers would also assist Pitcher in creating falsified titles and other documents. Continue Press Release