A violent robber who brutally killed a Queens pawn-shop owner, even taking a ring off his finger as he lay dying, was sentenced to at least 25 years in prison on Monday.
Rodolfo Lopez-Portillo, aged 52, received a sentence of 25 years to life from a Queens judge for the brutal murder of 60-year-old Arasb Shoughi inside the Global Pawn Shop on March 28, 2022, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
“Nothing can undo what happened, but we hope today’s sentence … provides a measure of solace to Mr. Shoughi’s loved ones,” stated District Attorney Melinda Katz.
On that day, Lopez-Portillo, wearing a black face mask, gloves, and sunglasses, sold two wristwatches to Shoughi around 1 p.m. before launching his attack. When Shoughi turned his back to place the items in a display case, Lopez-Portillo struck him repeatedly, causing him to bleed heavily, according to prosecutors.
The assailant then searched the store for coins and jewelry, taking a ring from Shoughi’s finger and beating him further until he was dead, as per the district attorney’s office.
When a woman entered the shop, Lopez-Portillo hit Shoughi three more times on the head before fleeing, prosecutors reported.
Initially, police suspected Shoughi had been shot due to the severity of his head injuries.
Lopez-Portillo fled to Baltimore for two weeks while Shoughi, also known as Ross, succumbed to his injuries on April 17, 2022.
“Ross was full of life; he radiated positivity, joy, and love,” his family wrote on a fundraising page, as reported in an April 2022 Queens Chronicle article.
“He went above and beyond to make those he loved know he was there for them, never expecting anything in return. His loss is an unfathomable tragedy that his loved ones and community will struggle with for years to come.”
Lopez-Portillo was apprehended at a Greyhound bus station with a suitcase containing some of the stolen coins, prosecutors said.
He was found guilty of murder, robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon last month. However, his lawyer told The Post that Lopez-Portillo plans to appeal the conviction.
“And I think that there is a very significant chance that the conviction will be reversed on appeal,” said lawyer Joseph Amsel, citing errors during the trial that he believes harmed his client’s case.
“He maintains his innocence,” Amsel added.
