(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the guilty plea of defendant Carlos Ortega for beating the two victims, who happened to be his nephews, with a metal pipe in 2018. Ortega fled New York shortly after his arrest and was brought back from his native Guatemala in February to face charges.
“This defendant’s assault was vicious enough to cost one of his victims a limb. Instead of communicating, this defendant chose violence. Then, instead of facing the consequences of his action, this defendant tried to flee to another country,” said District Attorney Tierney. “he fled so he would not have to answer for his actions. Thanks to my team, with the help of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Marshals Service, the defendant was captured and now he’s going to be held accountable.”
According to court documents and the defendant’s statements, on August 5, 2018, the two victims went to Ortega’s Central Islip home to pick up their grandparents, who were Ortega’s parents, and were visiting from Guatemala, to take them out for dinner.
Ortega, 42, upon arriving to his home and seeing the victims, parked outside his home in a car, retrieved a metal pipe from his work truck and confronted one of them.
Upon seeing the pipe, Victim 1, then aged 23, attempted to run away, but Ortega struck him several times in the leg with the pipe.
Victim 2 confronted Ortega who then struck him in the face with the same pipe. Both were treated at Southside Hospital. Victim 1’s beating was so severe his leg had to be amputated.
The entire incident was captured on Ortega’s home security camera. Ortega, at first, claimed self-defense, but after being confronted with the video, he admitted to his actions and was indicted. He was arraigned on December 21, 2018 before the Honorable William Condon.
The Judge set bail, which Ortega posted immediately. He was also required to surrender his passport, which he did. However, Ortega failed to appear on the next court date and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
It was later learned that Ortega fled the U.S. to return to his native Guatemala. With the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Grace DiVincenco of the Appeals Bureau, a red notice was issued. DiVincenco worked with U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Marshals Service to track down Ortega. The defendant was eventually located and returned to Suffolk County on February 25, 2022, where he remained incarcerated ever since.
This case was heard before the Honorable John B. Collins, State Supreme Court on Monday, September 26, 2022. Ortega is due back in court for sentencing on November 21, 2022. He is being represented by Anthony Scheller, Esq. and Marjorie Coello-Lorenzotti, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Laurie Moroff of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau.