Robert W. Rives, Carjacking, Missouri 2018

In a shocking case of carjacking, Robert W. Rives, 37, of New Baden, IL, has pleaded guilty to stealing an Uber driver's car in St. Louis, MO, on October 3, 2018.

Rives appeared before U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel, who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for October 25, 2019. According to the plea agreement, Rives was a passenger in a Chevy Impala vehicle when it turned in front of a Mitsubishi vehicle driven by an Uber Eats delivery driver.

Rives exited the passenger side and approached the driver, producing a firearm and demanding that he give him his vehicle. The victim complied, and Rives entered the Mitsubishi and drove off following the Impala. The stolen car contained numerous items, including a Rock River AR-15 rifle and two handguns.

Later that day, Rives was arrested in the same type of vehicle he had stolen, and officers recovered the AR-15 rifle and handguns. The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating this case.

Carjacking carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The use of a firearm during a crime of violence carries a minimum penalty of five years and a fine of $250,000.

The court will determine the final sentence for Rives on October 25, 2019.

Rives' guilty plea marks a significant victory for law enforcement in the fight against violent crime. The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of carjacking and the importance of vigilance when driving.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/illinois-man-pleads-guilty-stealing-uber-drivers-car