Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Josue Ortiz, 35, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, was sentenced to time served and three years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who handled the case, stated that on December 23, 2015, the Niagara Falls Police Department was dispatched to a residence on Niagara Avenue. A resident living in the lower apartment told officers that she believed a resident living upstairs had a gun.

 

Officers went upstairs and made contact with the defendant through a closed door and asked Ortiz if he had a gun.  The officers talked Ortiz into putting down the gun (a 12 gauge shotgun) and putting his hands up. Officers then placed the defendant in handcuffs and secured the gun.    

 

Josue Ortiz served 10 years in state prison for the murders of Nelson and Miguel Camacho. His conviction was vacated by an Erie County Court judge based on the findings of another federal investigation.   

 

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Chief Bryan DalPorto and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict, New York Field Division.