Va. man sentenced for hiring hit man from jail to kill victims so they wouldn't testify against him

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (TCD) -- A man who was already serving jail time on robbery and abduction charges was recently sentenced for trying to hire someone to kill two witnesses who were planning to testify against him.

According to the Commonwealth's Attorney for the city of Portsmouth, on Aug. 30, a jury found Nicholas Ortiz guilty of two counts of solicitation to commit murder for hire and two counts of felony obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to 25 years with 13 years suspended on each count of solicitation to commit murder for hire and five years with five years suspended for each count of felony obstruction of Justice on Nov. 20.

On Oct. 18, 2022, while Ortiz was in jail, he contacted an undercover Portsmouth Police detective posing as a hit man via a jail call. According to the attorney's office, Ortiz wanted to have "two victims killed due to them willing to testify against him in upcoming cases."

Ortiz reportedly provided "intimate details" about the victims to help the hit man carry out the killing.

According to the Portsmouth Police Department, he was charged with the solicitation to commit murder for hire and obstruction of justice charges on Oct. 24, 2022.

According to court documents obtained by WAVY-TV, on July 12, 2021, Ortiz wanted to reconcile his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, but she didn't want to. Ortiz allegedly got angry and threatened to take his own life in front of her with a .45 caliber handgun.

Ortiz reportedly ordered his ex-girlfriend to call a co-worker, and he threatened them over the phone. He then forced his ex-girlfriend to enter his car, and they drove around for hours, WAVY reports.

Ortiz's ex-girlfriend reportedly convinced him to bring her home, and she was able to escape in her own vehicle.

According to WAVY, the woman told police she was fearful of what Ortiz might do, and he once told her "he owns a lot of firearms," and "has nothing else to lose after she left."

Ortiz's ex-girlfriend reportedly filed a protective order against him.

MORE:

• Nicholas Ortiz Sentenced to Serve 12 Years in Solicitation to Commit Murder for Hire Convictions - Virginia Commonwealth Attorney's Office for Portsmouth
• Portsmouth Police Charge Suspect in Connection to Murder for Hire Plot, 10/25/2022 - Portsmouth Police Department
• Portsmouth man arrested, accused of hiring to kill witnesses involved in his case, 11/07/2022 - WAVY