New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the sentencing of John F. Rivers, 44, of East Greenbush, and Robert A. Pitcher, 58, of Broadalbin for their involvement in a car theft scheme in the Capital Region. The two men faced more than 30 felony charges related to stealing and selling vehicles that were towed from parking lots across the area.
According to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and New York State Police (NYSP), Rivers used his towing company’s contracts with local businesses to take vehicles illegally. He then sold these vehicles to scrap yards or used car dealers, including Pitcher. Rivers received a sentence of two to six years in prison, while Pitcher was sentenced on February 5 to five years of probation.
“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.”
Investigators found that between October 2022 and August 2024, Rivers took advantage of his position as a tow truck operator by using contracts with local businesses—including Walmart in Latham, Hannaford in Albany, and Home Depot in Rensselaer—to steal cars left overnight in parking lots he serviced. After taking these vehicles, he sold them to Pitcher who then created false ownership documents so they could be resold. Rivers also helped produce fake titles for these stolen cars.
Regulations require towing companies to notify vehicle owners within five days after towing their vehicle and hold it for at least 30 days before claiming its title. However, authorities say Rivers sometimes sold cars just days after towing them without informing their rightful owners. When some vehicle owners tried contacting him about retrieving their cars from his lot, he either ignored them or demanded excessive fees—sometimes up to $1,000 per day—for returning the vehicles.
In one instance from March 2024 cited by investigators, NYSP parked an undercover Hyundai Sonata at a Walmart where Rivers had a contract; it was soon taken by Rivers’ company without notification given to its registered owner. Two months later investigators saw the Sonata transported out-of-state where it was dismantled for parts; its owner never learned what happened.
Attorney General James charged Rivers in December 2024 with stealing 17 vehicles valued at $230,000 over nearly two years; Pitcher was charged two months later with multiple felonies related to buying and selling stolen cars. Both pleaded guilty: Rivers admitted Grand Larceny in the Second Degree while Pitcher pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree.
The case involved cooperation among several agencies including NYSP’s Special Investigations Unit—with help from state departments overseeing motor vehicles and tax/finance—and staff within OAG’s Investigations Division.
The New York Attorney General operates as a public law enforcement agency led by Letitia James according to its official website. The office promotes social justice through civil rights enforcement and consumer advocacy, protects residents’ rights and ensures public safety, offers services such as fraud investigations and tenant dispute mediation, addresses legal issues statewide through regional offices and preserves community well-being.
