Omar Ortiz Explained

Omar Ortiz
Fullname:Omar Ortiz Uribe
Birth Date:1976 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Position:Goalkeeper
Years1:1997–2001
Years2:2001–2003
Years3:2002
Years4:2003
Years5:2003–2007
Years6:2008–2009
Years7:2009
Years8:2009–2010
Clubs1:Monterrey
Clubs2:Atlético Celaya
Clubs3:→ Monterrey (loan)
Clubs4:→ Necaxa (loan)
Clubs5:Chiapas
Clubs6:Necaxa
Clubs7:Atlante
Clubs8:Monterrey
Caps1:30
Caps2:32
Caps3:17
Caps4:7
Caps5:162
Caps6:38
Caps7:0
Goals1:0
Goals2:0
Goals3:0
Goals4:0
Goals5:0
Goals6:0
Goals7:0
Totalcaps:286
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:2002
Nationalteam1:Mexico
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0

Omar Ortiz Uribe (born 13 March 1976) is a Mexican former professional footballer and convicted kidnapper. He played as as a goalkeeper, making his debut in 1997 with Monterrey.

He later spent several successful seasons at Atletico Celaya and Jaguares de Chiapas. During his time at Celaya, he earned one cap for Mexico, which came against Guatemala during the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Ortiz made his Atlante debut on February 25, 2009, during a CONCACAF Champions League semi-final against Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer. In May 2010, he was banned from football for two years for twice testing positive for the banned steroids oxymetholone and masteron.[1]

Ortiz is popularly known for his nickname El Gato (English: The Cat) for his "feline face" and green eyes.[2]

Arrest and conviction

On January 6, 2012, rumors began to spread of him being kidnapped,[3] but it was later confirmed that the Mexican authorities had arrested him outside his home in Monterrey after two kidnapping suspects were detained and confessed his involvement in the kidnappings.[4] After a couple of days, Ortiz's family members decided to report on his disappearance, but the authorities first refused to comment on the incident.[5] Upon his arrest, Ortiz was charged for working with a gang responsible for at least 20 kidnappings, among them the abduction of Gloria Trevi's husband in 2011.[6] The 35-year-old Ortiz admitted to have picked out two rich people for the kidnapping ring, since his job was to select wealthy families from his same social circle.[7] The gang allegedly demanded around 1 million pesos ($59,500 US dollars [Nov. 2015]) for the release of each victim.[8] He later confessed that the kidnapping ring was working for the infamous criminal organization known as the Gulf Cartel.[9] [10]

Reports from the government of Nuevo León mentioned that Ortiz had an addiction to cocaine.[11] In fact, La Jornada newspaper mentions that Ortiz became part of the kidnapping ring due to his drug addiction.[12] Ortiz also confessed to have experienced "financial problems" after he was banned for playing professional football for two years after consuming illegal substances.[13] George W. Grayson, a drug war analyst and expert of Mexican politics, said that Ortiz's arrest shows the "possible ubiquity of organized crime [in Mexico]."[14]

He was sent to a prison in Cadereyta, Nuevo León.[15] He was found guilty of at least three kidnappings and was sentenced to 75 years in prison on 8 January 2019.[16]

References

The paintings of artist Omar Ortiz (2014)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Omar Ortiz Uribe banned for positive steroid test . Fourfourtwo.com . 2010-05-10 . 2012-01-08 . https://archive.today/20120712122929/http://fourfourtwo.com/news/restoftheworld/53913/default.aspx . 2012-07-12 . live .
  2. News: Cordera. Santiago. Un 'Gato' de garras muy peligrosas. May 16, 2017. Yahoo! News. January 10, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131226132429/http://mx.deportes.yahoo.com/blogs/la-tinta-indiscreta/un-gato-de-garras-muy-peligrosas.html. December 26, 2013. A 'Cat' with very dangerous claws. es.
  3. News: Mexican Soccer Star "El Gato" Arrested in Kidnapping Case. 8 January 2012. Fox News. 8 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120110101442/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2012/01/08/mexican-soccer-star-el-gato-arrested-in-kidnapping-case/. 2012-01-10. live.
  4. News: Suspended Mexican Soccer Goalie Detained in Kidnap. 8 January 2012. ABC News.
  5. News: Reportan desaparición del ‘Gato' Ortiz, ex portero Rayado. 8 January 2012. El Universal. 6 January 2012. es. https://web.archive.org/web/20120108022839/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/820934.html. 2012-01-08. live.
  6. News: Mexican footballer arrested over links to kidnapping gang. 8 January 2012. The Guardian. London. 8 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150226013404/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jan/08/footballer-arrested-mexico-kidnapping. 2015-02-26. live.
  7. News: Omar 'El Gato' Ortiz arrested. 8 January 2012. ESPN. https://web.archive.org/web/20120111122156/http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/7438154/suspended-mexican-soccer-goalie-omar-el-gato-ortiz-arrested. 2012-01-11. live.
  8. News: Sandle. Tim. Mexican footballer Omar Ortiz arrested in kidnap-ring scandal. 8 January 2012. Digital Journal. https://web.archive.org/web/20120109210313/http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/317543. 2012-01-09. live.
  9. News: Omar Ortiz: Mexican Soccer Goalie Arrested For Alleged Role In Kidnapping Of Pop Star Gloria Trevi's Husband. 8 January 2012. The Huffington Post. Ray. Sanchez. 8 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120109020450/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/08/omar-ortiz-mexican-soccer-_n_1192323.html. 2012-01-09. live.
  10. News: Mexico goalkeeper arrested over kidnappings. 9 January 2012. Al Jazeera. 8 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20170811092923/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS0gPQWOpkc. 2017-08-11. live.
  11. News: Garza. Aracely. Acusan al portero de Monterrey El Gato Ortiz de secuestrador. 8 January 2012. Excelsior. es. https://web.archive.org/web/20120319043343/http://excelsior.com.mx/index.php?m=nota&id_nota=800193&seccion=especial-adrenalina-apertura-2011&cat=206. 2012-03-19. live.
  12. News: Arroyo. Maria Alejandra. El futbolista Gato Ortiz, arrestado por secuestro. 8 January 2012. La Jornada. es. https://web.archive.org/web/20120111055909/http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2012/01/08/politica/010n1pol. 2012-01-11. live.
  13. News: "El Gato" Ortiz presentado a las autoridades. 9 January 2012. Adiccion Rayada. 7 January 2012. es. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305085019/http://www.adiccionrayada.com.mx/el_gato_ortiz_presentado_por_las_autoridades-noticias_del_monterrey_rayados-ispyp-325727.htm. 2016-03-05. live.
  14. News: Lopez. Gabriela. Mexico goalkeeper arrested for helping kidnap gang. 8 January 2012. Reuters. 8 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120108081756/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/08/us-crime-mexico-goalkeeper-idUSTRE8060N020120108. 2012-01-08. live.
  15. News: El exportero acusado de secuestro Omar Ortiz fue internado en un penal. 20 January 2012. CNNMexico. 20 January 2012. es. https://web.archive.org/web/20120121092208/http://mexico.cnn.com/deportes/2012/01/20/el-exportero-acusado-de-secuestro-omar-ortiz-fue-internado-en-un-penal. 2012-01-21. live.
  16. News: Sentencian al Gato Ortiz a 75 años de prisión. 8 January 2019. Medio Tiempo. es. https://web.archive.org/web/20190108205321/http://www.mediotiempo.com/otros-mundos/sentencian-gato-ortiz-75-anos-prision. 2019-01-08. live.

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