Arrest Thursday For 1997 Mafia Murder In The Hudson Valley

YONKERS, NY — An alleged mobster and member of the Genovese Family was arrested Thursday in connection with a 1997 murder in Westchester County.

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Charles Gardner, the Commissioner of the City of Yonkers Police Department, announced the arrest of John Tortora, Jr., also known as Johnny T, on charges of racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and murder for hire.

The murder charges arise out of the 61-year-old's role in the Nov. 11, 1997, murder of Richard Ortiz, 29, in Yonkers.

Tortora was arrested Thursday morning in Yonkers by FBI agents and Yonkers PD detectives. He will be presented later today before the U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein at the United States Courthouse in Manhattan. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Sidney H. Stein. An initial pretrial conference is scheduled for August 14, 2018, at 3:00 p.m., before Judge Stein.

“As alleged in the indictment, the defendant was responsible for the stabbing death of Richard Ortiz over 20 years ago," Berman said. "Today, thanks to the remarkable dedication and perseverance of the FBI and the Yonkers Police Department, the defendant faces charges for his crimes.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and statements made in court:

From in or about 1997 up to and including in or about 2018, Tortora, an associate and later a member of the Genovese Crime Family, along with other members and associates of La Cosa Nostra, committed a wide range of crimes, including murder, extortion, gambling, and narcotics trafficking. In particular, he hired others to kill Richard Ortiz in order to further the goals of the Genovese Family. As a result, on November 11, 1997, Ortiz was brutally stabbed multiple times, causing his death.

The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

• Conspiracy to commit racketeering: Life in prison
• Murder in aid of racketeering: Mandatory life in prison or the death penalty
• Murder for hire: Mandatory life in prison or the death penalty

Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the Yonkers Police Department, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

“This arrest for the 1997 murder of Mr. Ortiz demonstrates the resolve and commitment of law enforcement to hold those accountable for their actions and serves as a warning to all members of La Cosa Nostra engaging in violent criminal activity in our communities. We will continue to work with our federal partners to aggressively target alleged criminals and criminal enterprises operating in our City," Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner said. "I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI for their invaluable support and efforts in this investigation.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Lonergan, Jessica Fender, and Lauren Schorr are in charge of the prosecution. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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