GA inmate sentenced to more years in prison for trafficking kilos of meth
A Georgia Department of Corrections inmate has been sentenced for his involvement in a 2019 trafficking case.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
The Coweta County District Attorney's Office said Rodolfo Ortiz entered a negotiated plea for his participation with the Sureños criminal street gang and his involvement in a trafficking case.
Ortiz was sentenced to a 50-year sentence for 25 years of that sentence to be served in confinement.
The DA said, back in 2019, Ortiz texted an undercover officer with Newnan police looking to distribute meth.. At the time, Ortiz was an inmate at the Georgia Department of Corrections. What is referred to as a 'prison broker' deal, Ortiz told the undercover officer that his people would transport illegal drugs to him in exchange for money, officials said.
TRENDING STORIES:
3 Atlanta men arrested after police find over 200 fake checks during traffic stop
Super Bowl LIX: Chiefs, Eagles players who got their start at GA high schools, colleges
'What I do?:' Armed robbery suspect leads GA deputies on 100 mph chase
Ortiz and the undercover officer spoke several times over the phone and planned for the deal to happen at a restaurant in Coweta County. The DA said, one of Ortiz's fellow Sureños drove from Gwinnett County to the restaurant to deliver the meth to the undercover officer. After making contact with the undercover officer, Ortiz's fellow gang member showed three large gallon-sized zip lock bags containing five kilograms of meth, according to the DA.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
That individual along with Mr. Ortiz was later indicted and charged with trafficking methamphetamine and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.
After he was sentenced and back in prison, Ortiz reached out to the undercover officer using a contraband phone expressing his fear of the sentence under the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. He offered to coordinate more drug transactions with the undercover officer in hopes of being sent to a less violent institution, the DA said. That investigation is pending.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Abilene man gets 195 years for trafficking teen to multiple men
ABILENE, Texas () – An Abilene man has been sentenced to 195 years in prison after being found guilty of trafficking a runaway teenager to multiple men. Six suspects indicted in connection to sex trafficking of runaway teen in Abilene Juan Ortiz was arrested in October 2023 and charged with Trafficking of a Child. According to court documents, Ortiz picked up the teen in August 2023 and took her to a motel on South 1st Street, where he provided her with drugs and alcohol, before soliciting multiple male suspects to pay him to have sex with the teen while he filmed it. Report: Two Abilene men involved in sex trafficking of runaway teen Ortiz stood trial in the 104th District Court, where a jury found him guilty on all counts: Trafficking of a Child, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, and two counts of Sexual Assault of a Child. He was sentenced to 80 years for trafficking, 75 years for aggravated sexual assault, and 20 years for each count of sexual assault. These sentences are to be served consecutively, resulting in a total of 195 years behind bars. Ortiz was also fined $20,000. APD Youth Detective Clint Coapland, who helped secure the arrest of Ortiz several months ago, says, 'The jury's decision to impose a 195-year sentence on the defendant sends an unmistakable message: crimes against children will be met with the full force of justice. This sentence is not just a punishment, it is a powerful stand in defense of the most vulnerable members of our society.' UPDATE: Abilene man accused of sex trafficking runaway teen to at least 4 predators Five other men were also arrested in connection with the case: Derrick Bernard Harden Jr., Cristian Gomez, Rony Pineda-Zuniga, Immanuel Dan Brown and Darlin Zuniga. Three of the suspects — Gomez, Pineda-Zuniga, and Zuniga — were found guilty of Solicitation of Prostitution. All sexual assault charges against them were waived, and they were each sentenced to two years in jail. Harden and Brown are the only remaining suspects whose trial is still pending. Harden's court date is currently set for September 2025, and Brown's is set for August 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Editorial: Stopping future Harvey Weinsteins — The NY Assembly must join the state Senate and pass the similar crimes bill
Harvey Weinstein is guilty, in a Manhattan state courtroom, of a 2006 sexual assault, again, just like he was found guilty in a Manhattan state courtroom five years ago of the same 2006 sexual assault. Weinstein's first conviction was thrown out and a new trial was needed because New York law does not allow the use of evidence from other, prior sexual offenses. That law needs to be changed and the state Senate passed a reform last year sponsored by chamber's No. 2 leader, Sen. Mike Gianaris, with a remarkable and overwhelming tally of 55-4. The Assembly and Speaker Carl Heastie need to match that before they break for the summer next Tuesday or another year will go by and prosecutors won't have all the tools they need to pursue horrible monsters like Weinstein. This is not a partisan matter; Gianaris is a Democrat, but every Republican senator voted for his measure, along with almost every Democrat. The numbers in the Assembly will be similar, provided Heastie brings forward the bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. Under the fix put forward by Gianaris and Paulin, New York would join the federal standard, which is also used by a good number of states, which permits admitting evidence of a defendant's prior sexual offenses in certain circumstances. What happened in the initial Weinstein prosecution in 2020 was the Manhattan district attorney asked the trial judge if it was permissible to use such testimony and the judge approved it, as did a unanimous appellate bench. Under New York law, that is occasionally allowed, on a case by case basis. But when it reached the state's highest court, it was narrowly overruled, tossing the whole Weinstein case and forcing this new trial. This time, the Manhattan DA didn't include any witnesses to testify about Weinstein's previous assaults and the jury still convicted him. But the law still must be reformed. As one expert points out, this verdict is yet further evidence that juries are capable of hearing evidence about multiple charges involving different victims without being overcome by prejudice, as they convicted Weinstein on one 2006 sex charge yesterday, but acquitted him of another from that same year. As to the third charge, from 2013, the jury will continue its deliberations today. The Gianaris/Paulin similar crimes bill, which 16 other states have, is fair to defendants and fair to victims. Such laws have been challenged in state and federal courts and determined to be constitutional. The sponsor's memo in the bill's justification mentions Harvey Weinstein and the reverse of his first conviction as the need for the legislation. That such an awful criminal is being invoked for something constructive to improve New York's criminal prosecution system is a tiny bit of justice. If the Assembly passes the bill and Gov. Hochul signs it, Weinstein can spend his coming many years in state prison thinking how he helped change the laws of New York in a positive way. But should Heastie not even allow a vote, Weinstein will still be heading to prison, but the law will remain badly out of date, denying future victims their chance for justice. Bring the bill to the floor, Mr. Speaker. _____
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
12th defendant pleads guilty in Nantwi case
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — Another defendant in the murder case of Messiah Nantwi came forward in Oneida County Court on Friday for their first appearance. Nathan Palmer was in front of Judge Michael Nolan on Friday, June 13 to plead guilty to charges stemming from the alleged murder. His top charge is first-degree Hindering Prosecution, which is a Class D Felony. He also faces charges of first-degree Falsifying Business Records, a Class E Felony. Palmer was not originally indicted with the original ten defendants by a grand jury, making him the second person — after Joshua Bartlett — to come forward after the grand jury indictments. Because of that, the DA issued a Superior Court Information, or SCI, which works similarly to an indictment, but allows the defendant to come into court and answer the charges willingly. Palmer was released on his own recognizance and will now face two years in the Oneida County Jail. He will also be required to testify against the other co-defendants at trial and must resign from the State Department of Corrections. Palmer will be due back in court on Friday, August 8, for the next steps in his case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
