Former Barrio Azteca Member Sentenced to 200 Months in Federal Prison for Distribution of Heroin Resulting in Death

This morning, 32-year-old former Barrio Azteca member Danny Ortiz of El Paso was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for distribution of heroin resulting in death announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez, El Paso Division and Socorro Police Chief Carlos Maldonado.

In addition to the prison term, Senior United States District Judge David Briones ordered that Ortiz be placed on supervised release for six years after completing his prison term. 

In April 17, 2015, Socorro Police officers discovered the body of a suspected heroin overdose victim, 35–year-old Kellie Kondrat.  The resulting investigation revealed that the defendant supplied the heroin which caused her death. 

On February 10, 2016, Ortiz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 200 grams of heroin.  By pleading guilty, Ortiz admitted that on several occasions between March 5, 2015, and May 19, 2015, he delivered heroin to the deceased as well as other individuals. 

Ortiz has remained in federal custody since his arrest by HSI agents on May 19, 2015.

“HSI along with our local law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively investigate those who engagein drug trafficking, and stop them from pumping poison into our communities,” said Waldemar Rodriguez. “This lengthy sentence sends out a clear message to transnational criminal organizations that operate in the El Paso area - the bigger the crime, the longer the time.”

This case was investigated by the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) together with the Socorro Police Department.