Michael Ortiz, Sr., Obstruction and Accessory to Murder, California 2013
A San Bruno man, Michael Ortiz, Sr., was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for obstruction of justice and being an accessory-after-the-fact to three racketeering murders.
Murder victim's rival gang members were shot and killed in South San Francisco, California, on December 22, 2010.
According to the U.S. Attorney, Michael Ortiz, Sr., admitted that his son, Joseph Ortiz, shot and killed the rival gang members and that he and his co-defendants hid the firearms used in the shootings to help Joseph Ortiz avoid arrest and prosecution.
Mike Ortiz, Sr., also helped his son flee to Mexico after the shootings.
The U.S. Attorney stated that this sentence should serve as a warning about the consequences facing gang members who use violence and intimidation to further their criminal enterprises.
Homeland Security Investigations, along with the Daly City Police Department and the South San Francisco Police Department, investigated the case, which resulted in the sentencing of Michael Ortiz, Sr.
Michael Ortiz, Sr., 50, of San Bruno, California, pleaded guilty on July 10, 2013, to the following charges:
- Accessory after the fact to racketeering murder, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 3 and 1959(a)(1)
- Conspiring to obstruct justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371
- Obstruction of justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2) and 2
- Concealment of an object to obstruct an investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519 and 2
The Honorable Susan Illston, United States District Court Judge, handed down the 70 month sentence and ordered Michael Ortiz, Sr., to serve a three-year term of supervised release during which he may be searched by any federal, state, or local law enforcement officer with or without cause.
Joseph Ortiz, also known as 'Little Vicious,' a member of the 500 Block/C Street Gang, pleaded guilty to the racketeering murders on July 19, 2013. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Susan Illston on November 8, 2013.
Out of the nineteen defendants originally charged as a result of this investigation, fourteen have pleaded guilty to racketeering-related offenses and/or offenses related to the obstruction of justice.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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