Grimy Times has learned that Carlos Rodriguez-Ortiz has been convicted of racketeering in a high-profile federal case out of Pennsylvania.
A jury delivered the guilty verdict in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (case no. 1:14-cr-00235) after a months-long trial. The verdict was handed down on October 15, 2015.
Rodriguez-Ortiz, 32, was charged with participating in a racketeering conspiracy involving narcotics trafficking, extortion, and murder. The indictment alleged that the defendant was a key player in the conspiracy, which operated in Pennsylvania and other states.
The conviction carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for January 15, 2016, before U.S. District Judge Sylvia H. Rambo.
Rodriguez-Ortiz’s defense team had argued that the government’s case relied on flawed testimony from cooperating witnesses and that the prosecution failed to prove its allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
However, the government presented evidence that the defendant was involved in a number of violent crimes, including the murder of a rival gang member and the extortion of local businesses. The prosecution also presented testimony from multiple witnesses who placed the defendant at the scene of one of the crimes.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith praised the work of law enforcement agencies in bringing the case to fruition, saying, ‘This conviction is a significant blow to organized crime in Pennsylvania and demonstrates our commitment to holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes.’
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Case: RODRIGUEZ-ORTIZ
- Court: PAED Federal District
- Filed:
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Federal Court Records â†â€â€ÂÂÂÂÂÂ
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