Ruben Pizzaro, 26, a/k/a “Chulo,” is going away for 75 years after being sentenced for the daylight murder of a rival drug dealer in front of a Bronx daycare center. The execution-style killing, carried out in November 2015, marked the violent climax of a turf war between two drug crews operating in the 180th Street and Hughes Avenue corridors of the South Bronx.
Pizzaro was convicted on June 13, 2017, following a one-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods, who handed down the sentence in Manhattan federal court. The charges included murder in aid of racketeering, participation in a narcotics conspiracy, and multiple firearms offenses—all stemming from a campaign of terror waged across several months in one of New York City’s most hard-hit neighborhoods.
According to court filings and trial evidence, Pizzaro led a street gang that distributed crack and cocaine near 180th Street and Arthur Avenue. His crew repeatedly targeted a competing crew based on Hughes Avenue, opening fire at least three times in October and November 2015. Two of those shootings resulted in injuries, and one unfolded within sight of a Bronx middle school.
The final and deadliest strike came on November 24, 2015, when Pizzaro gunned down David Rivera in broad daylight just steps from a daycare center at 175th Street and Crotona Avenue. Witnesses described chaos—parents screaming, children ducking, staff pulling kids inside as gunfire shattered the afternoon calm. Rivera, identified as a rival dealer, was struck multiple times and died at the scene.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman, who oversaw the prosecution, called the murder a prime example of the ‘wanton violence that often accompanies the sale of drugs.’ ‘Ruben Pizzaro will now serve 75 years in federal prison for his brazen crimes,’ Berman said. In addition to the prison term, Pizzaro was sentenced to four years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department, with prosecution handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn Crowley, Max Nicholas, and Robert Allen led the case, which prosecutors say sends a clear message: drug-fueled violence will be met with maximum consequences under federal law.
Related Federal Cases
- Ghoul Admits to Celebrating CEO’s Murder, Tormenting Family · New York
- Ukraine Fugitive Nabbed in Syracuse: Cops Allege Attempted Murder · New York
- Watson Morgan Triple Murder · New York
- Debra Arno Pleads Guilty in $20K Murder-for-Hire Plot · New York
- Ex-Cop Nick Tartaglione Charged in Chester Quad Murder · New York
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
