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July 21, 2010 03:01:28
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Alleged Latin King from Jersey City is charged
Alleged Latin King from Jersey City is charged with using cell phone to keep contact with outside world while in jail on murder charge
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
An alleged Latin Kings gang member jailed on charges he murdered a man in a Jersey City bar has been in contact with the outside world while behind bars and is now charged with using a cell phone while locked up at the Hudson County jail, officials said.
Miguel "King Migs" Ortiz, 25, of Fairmount Avenue in Jersey City, has been charged with using a prohibited electronic device. He made his first appearance on the charge Monday afternoon in Central Judicial Processing court in Jersey City.
Ortiz has been in the Kearny jail since his arrest on Jan. 9 on charges he shot Adrian Gerena, 23, of Irvington, in the forehead and chest on Dec. 30 in the Ringside, located at Tonnelle and Manhattan avenues.
In 2009, Ortiz was indicted on the charge of promoting organized street activity on a charge emanating from Guttenberg, but he eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser offense, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said.
Felix Y. Rodriguez, 28, of Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City, was arrested on Jan. 7, also in connection with the shooting at the Ringside, officials said. Rodriguez is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a felon, and hindering the apprehension of Ortiz, officials said.
Police say Rodriguez was in the bar when Ortiz arrived just before midnight, and officials allege he was Ortiz's accomplice. The pair walked to where Gerena and another man were playing cards and after a brief argument, Ortiz opened fire, killing Gerena and wounding another man, officials said.
The murder was the result of a previous fight in Downtown Jersey City, DeFazio said.
Ortiz was polite when he made his appearance in CJP via videolink from the jail and he referred to Judge Richard Nieto as "Sir."
Ortiz has already served prison terms from Oct. 17, 2003 to Oct. 6, 2005 and Sept. 11, 2006 to April 8, 2009 for drug and weapons offenses, and two counts of aggravated assault, officials said.
He is being held on a $1 million bail on the murder charge.
MICHAELANGELO CONTE
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