Samuel Rivera, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. today announces that Samuel Rivera, who was charged in the brutal sexual assault of a 38-year -old woman working in an East Harlem laundromat, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

“This sentence successfully concludes the prosecution of a violent sexual predator and ensures that the public will be protected from him for a very long time,” said District Attorney Vance. “Sexual assault is a serious crime that leaves its victims with lifelong scars.”

On February 3, 2009, the victim was attacked as she opened the Rainbow Laundromat, located at 2141 2nd Avenue, where she worked. The defendant followed the victim into the store, pretending to be a customer. He then attacked his victim, beating her and then raping her. The attack was caught on the laundromat’s security video camera.

Rivera, 29, of 305 E. 115th Street in Manhattan, was apprehended after still photos of the attacker were released to the public. A citizen called Crime Stoppers and identified the individual in the photos as Rivera. Rivera was arrested on February 7, 2009 and indicted on February 20, 2009. He plead guilty to the top charge on the indictment, Predatory Sexual Assault, an A-II felony.

Since it's inception in 1983, Crime Stoppers has helped NYPD detectives solve nearly 5,000 serious crimes, including 1,694 robberies, 1,076 murders and 138 rapes. (www.nypdcrimestoppers.com)

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