Alleged Mobster Arrested For Brutal 1997 Hudson Valley Murder
The FBI made an arrest in a brutal mob hit that happened in the Hudson Valley over two decades ago.
On Thursday officials from the Southern District of New York court announced the arrest of 61-year-old John Tortora Jr., of Yonkers for racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering and murder for hire.
The murder charges come from Tortora's alleged role in the Nov. 11, 1997, murder of 29-year-old Richard Ortiz of Yonkers.
“The arrest of John Tortora should remind everyone that justice delayed is not justice denied," FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said. "Whether a crime was allegedly committed decades ago or just days ago, the FBI will maintain the same tenacity and we will be relentless toward ensuring those who commit violent crimes be held accountable for their actions."
From 1997 to 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, according to the allegations in the indictment.
In 1997, Tortora hired others to kill Ortiz to further the goals of the Genovese Family, officials say. Ortiz was brutally stabbed multiple times and left for dead in or near the Saw Mill River.
“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," Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner said.
Tortora faces life in prison or the death penalty if convicted of the murder charges.
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