Tow Owner Sentenced in Upstate New York Vehicle Theft Scheme

A Rensselaer County tow truck operator has been sentenced to prison for his role in a vehicle theft scheme that targeted cars towed from retail parking lots in the Albany-area region of upstate New York. John F. Rivers, 44, of East Greenbush, was sentenced to two to six years in prison after pleading guilty to grand larceny. Used car dealer Robert A. Pitcher, 58, of Broadalbin, who purchased and resold stolen vehicles, was sentenced earlier to five years of probation.

Investigators found that between October 2022 and August 2024, Rivers used towing contracts with local businesses to remove vehicles from parking lots and illegally sell them to scrap yards and dealers, including Pitcher. Authorities said Rivers often failed to notify vehicle owners and sometimes sold vehicles within days of towing them.

Vehicle owners attempting to recover their cars were sometimes ignored or charged excessive fees. The scheme involved at least 17 stolen vehicles worth about $230,000. The investigation was led by New York State Police with assistance from several state agencies. Source: https://ag.ny.gov