Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERNESTO ORTIZ, 37, pleaded guilty today before Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven to one count of aiding and abetting a Hobbs Act robbery.
According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on September 1, 2006, ORTIZ aided and abetted the armed robbery of Betteridge Jewelers in Greenwich. In pleading guilty, ORTIZ admitted that, in an effort to facilitate the success of the planned robbery of Betteridge Jewelers, he and his brother, Eric Ortiz, created a diversion on Greenwich Avenue by lighting fire to an automobile they had driven to a location just south of Betteridge Jewelers. After lighting fire to the vehicle, the ORTIZ brothers fled the scene in another vehicle.
At about the same time, Charles Kertesz entered Betteridge Jewelers wearing a motorcycle helmet and brandishing a firearm and proceeded to rob the store at gunpoint, taking approximately $4.7 million worth of jewelry. Kertesz fled the store with the jewelry in a backpack and mounted a stolen motorcycle to escape. In the course of fleeing the scene, Kertesz dropped the backpack containing the stolen jewelry.
Judge Burns has scheduled sentencing for May 19, 2008, at which time ORTIZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Eric Ortiz and Kertesz have pleaded guilty to related charges and await sentencing.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – New Haven Violent Crimes Safe Streets Task Force, and the members of local law enforcement agencies including the Greenwich, South Windsor, Glastonbury, Bridgeport, Ansonia, Shelton and Natick (MA) Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Kaplan and Assistant United States Attorney Paul Murphy.
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