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Office of the District Attorney P. David Soares Samuel Rivera Gets Maximum ALBANY, NY – District Attorney P. David Soares today announced that SAMUEL RIVERA, 34, of 25 Raymo Street, Albany, NY, was sentenced to fifteen years in state prison. The sentence was imposed by the Honorable Joseph C. Teresi and will not begin until the conclusion of a fifteen year sentence that RIVERA is currently serving in the State of Florida. The defendant had been found guilty on two counts of robbery in the second degree after a jury trial before the Judge Teresi on November 18, 2004. Based on the evidence presented during the trial, the jury found that on the 30 th day of September, 2001, at approximately 9:28 P.M., RIVERA entered the Wendy’s restaurant at 1162 Route 7 in the Town of Colonie and stole money from two individuals as well as the store safe while displaying what appeared to be a rifle. RIVERA was caught through the use of DNA evidence. During the commission of the crime, he had placed band-aids on each of his finger tips to avoid leaving any fingerprints. One of these band-aid fell off, was noticed by one of the victims, and was recovered by the investigating officers. The NYS Police Crime Laboratory conducted a DNA analysis of the gauze portion of the band-aid and this data was entered into the National DNA Index system.. On January 6, 2003, the NYS Forensic Center notified the Colonie Police Department that a match had been obtained with a DNA sample taken from RIVERA upon his incarceration in the State of Florida following his conviction for Robbery and Escape. Officers from the Colonie Police Department traveled to Florida and obtained a confirming DNA sample from the defendant based on a buccal swab. Soares thanked the Colonie Police Department, the NYS Police Crime Lab and his staff for their excellent work in obtaining this conviction. RIVERA faces a maximum fifteen year term here in New York State which will start upon the completion of the fifteen year term he is currently serving in the State of Florida. Back to Press Releases For further information contact: Richard Arthur
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