Dec. 15, 2021 – Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced the sentencing of Bedford resident Robert Schuster, a criminal defense attorney, who caused a collision in 2019 while intoxicated, which resulted in the death of 22-year-old Diego Trejo.

Robert Schuster, 53, was sentenced on Dec.15, 2021, to a term of two to six years in state prison. On Aug. 10, 2021, Schuster pled guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a felony. The Westchester DA’s Office had requested that the court impose a sentence of 5 to 15 years in state prison.

“This senseless tragedy caused by a former attorney with a prior conviction for drunk driving who once again chose to disregard the law and drive while drunk cut short the life of a 22-year-old young man,” DA Rocah said. “My Office will aggressively prosecute drivers whose reckless behavior causes these kinds of physical and emotional tragedies for families.”

On Dec. 16, 2019, after leaving a holiday party at approximately 9:20 p.m., Schuster drove eastbound on Route 172 near Darlington Road in Bedford at 94 mph when he crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic and crashed into the car driven by Trejo. Schuster had a blood alcohol content above the legal limit at the time of the collision.

Trejo, a Mount Kisco resident, died at the scene. Schuster was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.

The Bedford Police Department and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety investigated the incident.

The case was before Judge Barry Warhit in Westchester County Court, and was prosecuted by Vehicular Crimes Bureau Chief Nadine Nagler and Assistant District Attorney Nicholas DiCostanzo.

_______________

Jess Vecchiarelli, Director of Communications
(914) 995-3586
jvecchiarelli@westchesterda.net