CENTRAL ISLIP MAN SENTENCED FOR ASSAULT IN THE FIRST DEGREE FOR VIOLENTLY BEATING HIS NEPHEWS

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Carlos Ortega, 42, was sentenced to eight years in prison, in addition to five years post-release supervision for beating his two 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 vicious assault cost one of his victims a limb,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Ortega fled so he would not have to answer for his actions. Thanks to the diligence of law enforcement, with the help of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Marshals Service, the defendant was brought to justice.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s statements at the time of his plea, on August 5, 2018, the two victims went to Ortega’s Central Islip home to pick up their grandparents (Ortega’s parents), who were visiting from Guatemala, to take them out for dinner. Ortega, upon arriving to his home and seeing the victims parked outside the home in a car, retrieved a metal pipe from his work truck and confronted one of them. Upon seeing the pipe, the first victim, then aged 23, attempted to run away, but Ortega struck him several times in the leg with the pipe.

The second victim confronted Ortega who he then struck in the face with the same pipe. Both were treated at Southside Hospital. The first victim was beaten so severely that his left leg had to be amputated.

The entire incident was captured on a 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 J. Condon. The Judge set bail at $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond, which Ortega posted immediately. The defendant 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 subsequently learned that Ortega had fled the United States to return to his native Guatemala. With the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Grace DiVincenco of the Appeals Bureau, a red notice was issued. Assistant District Attorney DiVincenco worked with the 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 has remained incarcerated ever since.

This case was heard before the Honorable John B. Collins. Ortega is being represented by Anthony Scheller, Esq. and Marjorie Coello-Lorenzotti, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Laurie Moroff of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau.

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Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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